Tet, the first day of the first month of the lunar year took place this year on February 18. The celebration of Tet, according to Asian customs and traditions is considered the most important and solemn one of the whole year. Everyone expects Tet will bring new and favorable experiences to them: a prosperous business for the head of the household, a fulfilling happiness for the parents and brilliant school success for the children. It is time to leave behind the misfortunes of the past year and a time to look forward to a brighter future. On this occasion, Vietnamese people pay social visits to their friends and relatives; exchange wishes for longevity, prosperity and happiness.

Out of respect for these customs, the Catholic Social Services, the Vietnamese Apostolate and the Vietnamese-American Association coordinated their efforts to organize the New Year’s party on February 19.

In the Vietnamese calendar, every cycle has 12 years, each one is symbolized by an animal. The first animal of the cycle is the mouse, followed by the water buffalo, tiger, cat, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, hen, dog and the pig. This was the year of the snake.

The party, held at the First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree St., attracted more than 800 people including most of the Vietnamese in the archdiocese, their sponsors and friends and other Americans officially involved in the Vietnamese resettlement program.

Father Pham Van Phuong, a young and dynamic Vietnamese priest serving the Atlanta diocese, acted as chairman of the day’s events. The program included the “ancestor’s worship service,” which comprised the solemn “three periods of drum and gong,” and the animated firecracker welcome ritual. Skits, traditional songs and dances, gift giving to the children and a Vietnamese long dress (“as dai”) contest were also a part of the celebration. The five most chic and elegant “as dai” were selected and prizes awarded to five young ladies. Among the winners was an American. The harmony of their songs and the many typical dances performed by timid young Vietnamese gave American spectators a concept of the Vietnamese culture.

Finally, the supper offered traditional dishes such as steamed rice cakes (banh chung) and egg rolls (cha gio).

After the fall of Saigon in May 1975, more than 130,000 Vietnamese fled their homeland to migrate to the United States. They experienced many difficulties and obstacles here in their first days in this country. Communication barriers, culture shocks, differences of customs and style of life, diversity of jobs. Realistically, they know that a lot of difficulties are still ahead of them in their new life but their settlement and adjustment have been very smooth and satisfactorily realized with the guidelines and assistance of their American friends.

The struggle for a better life goes on slowly, but surely, many of them are beginning to work their way out of entry level jobs and into better paying positions. Patience, perseverance, intelligence are beginning to pay off. The atmosphere, the spirit of the Tet celebration, indicated optimistic and great progress toward the settlement of the Vietnamese in America. The sounds of the drum and gong revived in the Vietnamese’s mind many beautiful, unforgettable memories of their motherland. Many Vietnamese women could not restrain their tears when large candles were lighted and incense burned on the altar of the ancestors.

For the Vietnamese, it was a unique and meaningful day to gather to share their perceptions, to recall the remote memories of their native land. For the Americans, it was a memorable occasion to experience the customs of a tiny country on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.