Grandparents often have the phrase "The 1st of Father's Day, the 2nd of Mother's Day, the 3rd of Teacher's New Year" referring to gratitude, always looking to the roots every spring. That is why on the first day of the new year, most Vietnamese families prepare a meal tray to offer to grandparents and ancestors. Regardless of whether they are rich or poor, everyone tries to arrange for the tray to be full and solemn with the wish that the new year will be peaceful and have a lot of luck.
Depending on each region, the menu for the first day of Tet is also different to suit the taste and culture of the 3 regions of the North, Central and South.
The tray of offerings for the 1st day in the North
Normally, the rice tray on the 1st day of the year in the North must have all 4 plates and 4 bowls symbolizing the four seasons of the year, implying that the whole year is prosperous and all things are desired. However, you can arrange 6 or 8 plates if you want the plate to be more formal and sophisticated.
The first day worshiping tray in the North is basically indispensable with dishes such as:
Boiled chicken: Boiled chicken is always a dish that appears on the first days of the year not only in the North but also in other regions. The iridescent yellow color of chicken after being boiled means that the whole year is always full and cozy.
Plate of fried spring rolls: Contributing to the menu of offerings on the 1st day of the New Year, Northerners often present fried spring rolls with the wish that the whole family will always gather in the new year.
Bowl of stewed bamboo shoots soup with pork leg: The selected pork leg must have meat and fat, cleverly simmered with dried bamboo shoots to make the soup sweet and delicious.
Gac sticky rice: Red sticky rice with eye-catching red color symbolizes good luck for the whole year to be brilliant and successful. Therefore, Gac sticky rice must be present in the tray of rice to offer to grandparents and ancestors on the 1st day of Tet in the North.
Banh Chung: Indispensable in the menu for the first day of Tet, banh chung is considered a "national soul" dish of Vietnamese people every spring.
Moreover, many typical dishes with the quintessence of Northern cuisine such as spring rolls, pickled onions, drop ball soup, fried vermicelli or mannequins cannot be absent from the tray of rice offerings for Tet.
The menu for offerings on the 1st of Tet in the North
Rice tray offered on the 1st day in the Central region
Unlike the New Year's Day tray in the North or the South, people in the Central region often prefer dishes with richer flavors and saltier spices in the menu for the first day of Tet.
Pork soaked in fish sauce: Pork is soaked in fish sauce with a rich taste, sliced thinly and served with raw vegetables.
Banh To: A typical cake during the traditional Tet holiday in the Central region, Banh To is made of glutinous rice, covered with a layer of sugar, fresh ginger and sesame on top.
Banh tet: Banh tet in the New Year's Eve offering tray usually has more fillings and a thicker crust than the Southern way of wrapping. Offering to grandparents and ancestors, a plate of banh tet is filled with the hope that the whole year will "make a profit", the family will be reunited and happy.
Beef jerky: The delicious red and pink beef patties symbolize close relationships and union.
Pickled onions: Different from the other two regions, pickled onions are modified by housewives, mainly in favor of salty taste to suit the taste of Central people. Instead of using palanquin or sauerkraut, the pickled onions on the menu for the first day of the Lunar New Year are usually made from papaya, dried onions, carrots, etc.
Savory and spicy dishes such as roasted chicken, ram rolls, mixed bamboo shoots, etc. are also often present in the New Year's Day tray.
The menu of offerings for the first day of Tet in the Central region
New Year's Day offerings in the South
Most of the dishes in the tray of rice offered to grandparents and ancestors on New Year's Day in the South are usually simple and rustic. Not fussy in the way of processing but still ensure to bring many delicious dishes full of flavor on Tet holiday.
Banh Tet: Eating Tet in the South must stay up late to watch the pot of banh tet, enjoy the soft, greasy cake to be interesting. If the North has square banh chung, the South cannot lack round banh tet in the menu for the first day of Tet.
Braised meat: The plump pieces of meat symbolize affluence, the family is warm inside and out.
Bitter melon soup: With the desire to receive more luck, bitter melon soup is chosen by Southerners to be displayed on the New Year's Day tray.
Kieu tubers: Regularly present in the menu of offerings on the 1st of the Lunar New Year, the pickled tubers have a sweet, crunchy taste.
Boiled chicken: With the meaning of bringing wealth and prosperity, boiled chicken or shredded chicken is always the choice of many Vietnamese families to make the tray more solemn and eye-catching.
The menu for offerings on the 1st of Tet in the South
Offering a full and thoughtful tray of rice to grandparents and ancestors is to offer the whole family's respect and gratitude. Therefore, housewives should take care of the New Year's Eve tray more eye-catching and decent. Moreover, in the days leading up to Tet, raw materials such as meat and vegetables are prone to price increases or poor quality due to lower supply than demand.
So in order to protect the health of the whole family and ensure that the food is deliciously prepared, choose clean food at reputable places to get a full meal of nutrition. Organica is proud to be the source of organic vegetables and fruits, a variety of fresh foods every day with clean European production processes. The price is very affordable, suitable for all families. Besides, you can also buy through the app, go to the store or buy through the website, which is extremely convenient!
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Hopefully, the menu for the first day of the New Year festival shared by the O family above will bring you a lot of useful information. If you are choosing ingredients to cook for Tet, don't forget to contact Organica immediately for quick support!