A warm New Year's Eve celebration amidst the Covid-19 pandemic in Nghe An.

Prioritize disease prevention.

Given the still complex situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in the area, this occasion is for welcoming...Year of the Tiger (2012)In 2022, the People's Committee of Nghe An province directed the suspension of festivals and the limitation of the number of participants in activities such as birthday celebrations, ancestral worship, memorial services, weddings, etc., to ensure safety.

A view of Tru Son commune (Do Luong district) on New Year's Eve of the Year of the Tiger 2022. Photo: Nguyen Dao

People in Tru Son commune (Do Luong district) gather in small groups to light fires for warmth while waiting for the New Year's Eve moment. Photo: Nguyen Dao

Like people throughout the country, for the people of Nghe An, New Year's Eve is a sacred moment when members of the extended family gather together to share their thoughts and feelings and look forward to good hopes for the new year. Especially in families with elderly members, New Year's Eve is a time when generations of children and grandchildren reunite, offering incense at the ancestral altar to show filial piety.

In recent years, people in Nghe An have also tended to gather at public places such as squares, stadiums, and village cultural centers to sing, dance, and light bonfires to celebrate the Lunar New Year.New Year EveThe spacious area and large number of people made the New Year's celebration even more joyful and exciting.

The extended family of Mr. Bui Cong Tiem, in Quyet Thang hamlet, Tuong Son commune (Anh Son district), requested that smaller families offer incense before the ancestral altar at specific times to avoid large gatherings. (Photo: Cong Khang)

But this New Year's Eve, the roads from the city to the countryside were quite deserted, and public places of entertainment were sparsely populated. This was because most people stayed home to celebrate with family and loved ones during the sacred moment of transition from the old year to the new.

Mr. Bui Cong Tiem, from Quyet Thang village, Tuong Son commune (Anh Son district), is the clan leader. In previous years, on New Year's Eve, many descendants would gather to offer incense, prepare the feast, eat together, and chat for hours. This year, with descendants returning home for Tet from all over, the situation is different.Covid-19 pandemicIt's still complicated, so we shouldn't gather in large groups for meals.

Each small family only arranged for 1-2 members to attend the year-end party, and the children and grandchildren did not gather to offer incense at the same time, but were divided into different time slots to limit contact. "We know that gathering all the children and grandchildren in the clan to sit and chat would be more enjoyable. But with the pandemic still complicated, we must prioritize both disease prevention and maintaining the warm atmosphere of the extended family," said Mr. Bui Cong Tiem.

The warmth of reunion

This year, Vinh City also did not organize a fireworks display on New Year's Eve, so Mrs. Uong Thi An's family (85 years old) in Le Loi ward decided to stay home and gather around a pot of cooking.Chung cakeMs. Tien learned how to wrap bánh chưng (Vietnamese rice cakes) before she was even 20 years old, and every Tet holiday she passes on her knowledge of wrapping beautiful, square bánh chưng to the next generation.

Ms. Uong Thi An, from Le Loi ward (Vinh city), is busy wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) to prepare them for cooking and offering during the New Year's Eve ceremony. Photo: Duc Anh

On New Year's Eve, Mrs. Uong Thi An recounted touching stories about Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in the old days to the younger generation... Photo: Duc Anh

This year, starting from the afternoon of the 29th of the lunar month, Mrs. Tien and her grandchildren diligently wrapped banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) for several families of her children and grandchildren. The cakes were finished, and the whole family gathered around to cook them, hoping to take them out before the New Year's Eve ceremony to offer to their ancestors. By the warm fire, Mrs. Tien recounted stories of past Tet celebrations to her children and grandchildren, telling fairy tales to the little ones, creating a joyful and cozy family atmosphere.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Phong, from Truong Thi ward (Vinh city), said: “Before, I used to take my grandchildren to the square to watch fireworks on New Year's Eve, but this year the whole family will go back to Hung Nguyen to celebrate New Year's Eve with their grandparents. The children really like it because it's quiet in the countryside, and their grandparents tell them many stories.”Tet holiday"In the old days, the most important thing was to enjoy a warm family atmosphere and minimize the risk of infectious diseases."

New Year's Eve in Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong). Photo: Dinh Tuan

On New Year's Eve, the management board of Hoa Tay block, Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong district) offered incense and prayers before the altar of President Ho Chi Minh at the block's cultural center. Photo: Dinh Tuan

According to our observations, not only in Vinh City and Anh Son District, but also throughout the regions from Dien Chau, Thanh Chuong, Do Luong up to the mountainous border district of Tuong Duong, on New Year's Eve, people tend to reunite and celebrate the new year with their families while also focusing on disease prevention and control.

It can be said that this year, many families in Nghe An province implemented COVID-19 prevention and control measures as directed by the Provincial People's Committee. Most people stayed at home, avoiding large gatherings and meals, and local authorities did not organize cultural or artistic activities in public places on New Year's Eve. This contributed to a warmer, more joyful atmosphere in each family, truly embodying the spirit of New Year's Eve.union members.