The tradition of bathing with fragrant leaves on the afternoon of the 30th of Tet.

(Baonghean.vn) - For generations, the habit of boiling fragrant leaves to bathe on the afternoon of the 30th of Tet (Lunar New Year's Eve) has become a beautiful and sacred custom of the Vietnamese people as they prepare to welcome the approaching new year.

Picking fragrant leaves for bathing on the last day of the year has become a beautiful custom of the Vietnamese people. Photo: Phuong Thao.

According to Vietnamese tradition, bathing with fragrant herbal water on the last day of the year helps people find peace of mind after the fatigue of daily life, washing away worries and preparing to welcome the new year.

Bathing in a pot of fragrant, warm water infused with coriander leaves on the last day of the old year is like letting go of unfulfilled desires, incompleteness, or lingering sorrows in one's heart.

Commonly used leaves include lemongrass, basil, lime leaves, betel leaves, pomelo leaves, soapberry, etc. Photo: Phuong Thao.

This tradition has become a beautiful and sacred custom, an indispensable part of Vietnamese culture during the Lunar New Year.

According to medical science, aromatic leaves also help improve blood circulation, soothe pain, restore health, and create a feeling of comfort and well-being.

The leaf-wrapped pot embodies simplicity and boundless warmth. Photo: Phuong Thao.

The pot of fragrant herbal tea is associated with cherished memories of the love and care of my grandmother and mother. Photo: Phuong Thao.

The scent of fragrant herbs and plants in the garden on a late afternoon at the end of the year, just smelling it makes one feel much lighter and more relaxed… Photo: Phuong Thao.

The scent of herbal tea sometimes evokes fond memories in people's minds. It's the scent of care, of love, of the warmth of a grandmother or mother. A distinctive aroma of the homeland that will linger throughout the year, reminding everyone of their origins and roots.

It's like a scent of the past, taking us back to what we've experienced, allowing us a moment of quiet reflection on the last afternoon of the year, to feel what has come and gone.

Phuong Thao