Uncle Ho with Tet tree planting

(Baonghean.vn) - 57 years ago, in the spring of 1960, Uncle Ho launched the Tree Planting Festival "For the benefit of ten years of planting trees, For the benefit of a hundred years of cultivating people". In response to his call, the tree planting movement on the occasion of Lunar New Year every year has become a good custom of our people.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh loved nature and lived close to nature, so from the days of revolutionary activities, although he was busy with a thousand and one things, he always paid attention to building the environment to ensure living conditions and secret work during the resistance war. At that time, the agency often had to move, he advised cadres to choose places: "Above there are mountains, below there are rivers, there is land for us to plant, there is a beach for us to enjoy".

During his lifetime, Uncle Ho always loved and was close to nature.

Upon arriving at the new location, he and his staff immediately began digging the land and planting trees to improve their lives and to integrate with nature. He considered living close to and in harmony with nature as a way to nourish the soul and mind.

President Ho Chi Minh raised the issue of fighting against natural disasters, paying attention to planting trees and protecting forests, and prohibiting deforestation. According to him, planting trees not only has the great meaning of making the natural environment and landscape of the country more beautiful, but also has the practical meaning of preparing wood for building houses for the people.

On May 30, 1959, under the pen name Tran Luc, Uncle Ho wrote an article: "Farmers must plant trees to prepare for building houses", published in Nhan Dan Newspaper No. 1901, in which Uncle Ho pointed out: "If you want to build a good house, you must make an effort to plant trees. We will prepare from now on, and in a few years, we will start building houses."

President Ho Chi Minh planted a banyan tree at Thong Nhat Park to start the tree planting festival he initiated on January 11, 1960.

On November 28, 1959, in Nhan Dan Newspaper No. 2082, President Ho Chi Minh wrote the article "Tet Tree Planting" and proposed to organize a Tet Tree Planting Day to practically celebrate the Party's founding anniversary and hoped that in 10 years our country's landscape would become more and more beautiful, the climate more moderate, and the trees more abundant.

In the article, Uncle Ho clearly stated the benefits of planting trees, which is a job that "costs little but brings many benefits", and at the same time suggested that all people in the North each take charge of planting one or two trees and taking good care of them.

At that time, Uncle Ho calculated that “in the North, there were about 14 million people, of which about 3 million were children, and 11 million people aged eight and over could plant trees… Thus, each Tet holiday, about 15 million trees could be planted. From 1960 to 1965, we would have 90 million trees, including fruit trees, flowering trees, and house pillars. And in twenty years, our country’s landscape would become more and more beautiful, the climate more moderate, and there would be more timber. That would contribute significantly to improving the lives of our people.” At the end of the article, Uncle Ho wrote that Tet tree planting “is also a long-term but gentle competition that everyone - from the elderly to children - can enthusiastically participate in.”

It can be seen that the meaning of “Tet tree planting” is extremely practical and great. Uncle Ho’s call for “Tet tree planting” has received enthusiastic response from the people of the whole country, becoming a widespread mass movement, a beautiful feature in Vietnamese traditional culture.

Uncle Ho planted a banyan tree in Vat Lai commune, Ba Vi, Ha Tay (now Hanoi) on February 16, 1969.

On the morning of January 11, 1960, the atmosphere of the first tree planting festival to celebrate the Party and Spring was very exciting. President Ho Chi Minh and the people of the capital planted trees in Bay Mau Lake Park (now Thong Nhat Park). Here, Uncle Ho personally held a shovel and scooped soil to build a small banyan tree. After planting the tree, Uncle Ho talked intimately with everyone about the benefits of planting trees. He said that a few years ago, this place was a garbage dump, but thanks to everyone's labor, the trees have now grown green and lush. On holidays, the ladies and gentlemen brought their children here to enjoy the cool breeze, see the flowers, and enjoy the trees. This is the flower garden of the ladies and gentlemen. So we must work hard, we do it for ourselves and for future generations.

Every year, when Tet comes, Uncle Ho writes articles reminding people to plant trees during Tet, and visits and participates in planting trees with the people. He always praises localities, units, and individuals who plant trees well and reminds localities and cooperatives that have not paid attention to organizing "Tet Tree Planting".

He especially noted that it is necessary to closely link “Tet tree planting” with the plan to plant trees and afforest, “plant a tree, make sure that tree is strong”. He also noted: “Some places mistakenly think that Tet tree planting is only one time and one year; but do not understand that Tet tree planting is also a long-term and continuous economic plan…”, “The reason why Tet tree planting has become a strong mass movement is because everyone sees its practical and long-term benefits”.

Uncle Ho takes care of the star apple tree that the Southern people sent him (December 1957).

In the spring of 1969, Uncle Ho's health was very weak, so arranging for him to plant trees in a locality according to his wishes was a very difficult problem. Those who served him were very worried, so they repeatedly asked him to postpone the tree planting. But Uncle Ho was very determined. He said: "This is the 10th anniversary of the launching of the Tree Planting Festival, so you must arrange for him to plant trees in a locality with many achievements...". After that, Uncle Ho suggested choosing Vat Lai commune, Ba Vi district, Ha Tay province (now Hanoi) as a place with a good tree planting movement.

According to the prepared plan, Uncle Ho arrived at the tree planting site. Many delegates and people from all walks of life stood on the tree hills to welcome Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho personally planted another banyan tree. Looking at the shovels of soil and the water jugs that Uncle Ho watered the trees, everyone was moved. After planting the trees, Uncle Ho and everyone gathered under the eucalyptus trees and cordially asked questions and wished everyone a Happy New Year. Uncle Ho advised: "This country is ours, so we must compete to produce well and plant trees well."

Even when lying on his sickbed, Uncle Ho did not forget to remind the Nghe An Party Committee to "have a plan to plant trees to protect the forest". His will also did not forget to remind our people to continue planting trees and afforestation. He wrote: "If there is a plan to plant trees on the hill, whoever comes to visit should plant a tree as a souvenir. Each tree planted must be good. Over time, many trees will form a forest, which will be good for the landscape and beneficial for industry".

Uncle Ho's stilt house is always shaded by green trees.

Beloved Uncle Ho has passed away, the earth and sky have entered many new springs. Tree planting festival has become a fine tradition preserved by our people for many generations. From his teachings, the movement of planting trees, afforesting, and greening barren hills has always been responded to by the entire Party and people with many concrete actions. His example of simple living, close to nature, progressive thoughts and philosophy of protecting landscapes, ecological environment and natural resources for sustainable development has become a guideline for correct action for generations today and forever.

Uncle Ho's Tet tree planting movement has been over for nearly half a century. Responding to his call for Tet tree planting, everyone is very happy to have contributed to creating many generations of trees for the country. And the generations of trees planted in the early years of the movement have now become lush old trees on the streets and roads of villages, contributing to creating beautiful natural landscapes for the country.

The banyan trees, the ficus trees… that Uncle Ho personally planted when he visited a certain place have now become historical and cultural relics. And these places, as well as all generations of Vietnamese people, present and future, will forever preserve the fine tradition of his tree planting festival, so that our country, Vietnam, will continue from one green century to another forever.

Peace

(Synthetic)