The Lunar New Year has a rich tradition in which Vietnamese Catholics take the time to give thanks to God and celebrate His glory in their lives.
It consists of three days of celebration, and this year will be Feb. 17-19, which also coincides with the start of the Lenten season in the liturgical calendar with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18.
Many Vietnamese families within the Diocese of St. Augustine continue to uphold the traditions associated with the Lunar New Year and it remains a staple of their cultural heritage since moving to the United States.
Christ the King Catholic Church will hold a Mass welcoming in the New Year at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 with Bishop Erik Pohlmeier as the celebrant.
There will be a big gathering and joyous celebration with food and festivities following the Mass, known as Tểt, which is the name for the holiday feast held each Lunar New Year in Vietnam.
According to Father Bernie Tan Dang, CRM, at Christ the King Catholic Church, each day has its own meaning of spiritual reflection that is a rooted part of the tradition.
The first day is dedicated to God for the blessing he has provided to a person throughout the year; the second focuses on one’s ancestors and praying for them and all they have given to the family over the years; and the third day consists of prayers for good crops and good work at a person’s job during the year to come.
“Each day is just a continued time to give thanks to God for all the ways he has blessed us and influenced our lives in the past and in the year to come,” Father Dang said.
