Teaching cultural traditions through traditional Tet experiences in schools

As the Lunar New Year approaches, schools from preschool to high school are organizing a variety of experiential, cultural, and artistic activities related to the traditional Lunar New Year for students to participate in. These activities not only help students “relieve stress” after the first-semester exams and offer opportunities for experience and creativity, but also play an essential role in educating students about national cultural traditions and preserving the spirit of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year among the younger generation.

At preschools, the Lunar New Year is “told” through images, colors, and simple experiences. These include yellow apricot blossoms, pink peach flowers, banh chung, banh tet, and five-fruit trays, all decorated from classroom corners to schoolyards. Poems, songs, and dances about spring and the Lunar New Year, along with New Year greetings to grandparents and parents, are lovingly taught and guided by teachers to the “young seedlings.” In the days leading up to Tet, every preschool organizes a Spring Festival featuring various cultural performances and folk games for students. Many schools also encourage parents to take part, creating a joyful atmosphere to welcome the new spring. Through these activities, young children begin to form an understanding of the traditional Lunar New Year, serving as a day of reunion, love, and sharing.

At the primary school level, educational activities about the Lunar New Year are expanded with more diverse forms. Many schools organize “My hometown Lunar New Year festival”, recreating the space of a Lunar New Year market, with calligraphy booths and folk games. Several schools in Dong Nai also incorporate the Bien Hoa pottery space into their curriculum. Through this, students not only understand the nation’s traditional Lunar New Year customs but also learn more about the traditional pottery craft and the famous Bien Hoa pottery brand of Dong Nai.

At the lower secondary and high school levels, education on traditional Lunar New Year customs is flexibly integrated into academic subjects and extracurricular activities. Many schools organize Tet-themed decoration events, banh chung wrapping contests, and stage performances reenacting Lunar New Year customs. These activities provide students with opportunities to develop their creativity, teamwork, and presentation skills.

A notable aspect is that Tet educational activities are increasingly associated with the spirit of sharing and community responsibility. Schools across Dong Nai province actively mobilize benefactors and organize fundraising initiatives to collect Tet gifts for students in difficult circumstances. These gifts not only help disadvantaged students enjoy a more fulfilling Lunar New Year but also serve to educate all students about compassion, mutual support, solidarity, and sharing with those less fortunate.

In the context of global integration and the significant influence of technology, cultural education in schools is of great importance. Schools are not only places to impart knowledge, but also environments that nurture character and transmit cultural identity to the younger generation. Experiential activities centered on the traditional Lunar New Year are effective ways to help students understand and appreciate national cultural values, thereby fostering awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural traits in modern life.

By Hai Yen – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho