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Traditional holidays in Vietnam nowadays.

Traditional holidays is a cultural phenomenon embodies the identities of every nations including Vietnam. Therefore, we could understand some aspects of Vietnamese traditional old and modern culture from observing its traditional holidays and identify its similarities and differences with other nations. There have been existing many traditional holidays in Vietnam, but due to historical reasons some of them have been given up or simplified. Nowadays, although many people make ceremonial offerings in "Ngay ram"(15th of every month in lunar calender) and at the first or the last day of every lunar month, however,"Tet Nguyen Dan" (or Lunar New Year Holiday) and "Tet Trung Thu" (holiday in August.15th -lunar calender) are still the most important traditional holidays for all Vietnamese. "Tet Nguyen Dan" is considered the most important holiday in a year. This is the sacred time for all Vietnamese people to remember their origins, workship their ancestors as well as other Gods or deities and welcome a new year. Vietnamese people make ceremonial offerings traditionally to wish for lucky things. Recently, offerings have been modernized, some customs in Tet holiday have been changed. Old traditional ceremonies were reduced to make Tet holiday more cheerful and democratic. Besides, "Trung Thu" holiday is no less important than Tet holiday. From ancient time, it has been a big traditional holiday. Trung Thu holiday is the time for Vietnamese people to welcome the moon. Experienced farmers usually saw the shape of the moon to foretell the weather for next crops. Artists and poets met each other to enjoy the beauty of the moon and composed poems. Time has gradually changed and nowadays Trung Thu holiday mainly is a holiday of children. However it is still a big collective holiday in Vietnam. When the Trung Thu holiday come, children are organized and gathered in public play ground, in an empty wide ground or even in pavements...etc. it depend on local conditions. In these places, all children can participate in traditional games and enjoy Trung Thu's cakes (traditional cakes made only on this occasion) and other delicious fruits. Therefore children like this holiday very much. Moreover, Trung Thu holiday is a good occasion to remind adults about children's rights. That is why Trung Thu holiday is becoming more and more important even though it is not an official national holiday. In spite of having been modernized and changed, traditional holidays is still very important for Vietnamese people. Through those holidays, we can find not only Vietnamese traditional identities but also can understand spiritual life of Vietnamese people. In these occasions, they always try to do their best with a sincere heart hopping for a brighter future.