May Day is a great international labour holiday. It was born in the United States of America, workers all over the world are very proud of it. In Great British of the United Kingdom , the first May Day meeting was held as early as 1890. But in 1899 , the first of May was finally chosen the Day of International Solidarity of the working people. Since then, May Day has been considered the day when the working people in many countries show their mutual friendship. They march and demonstrate for their solidarity. The day now symbolizes the spirit of the working class all over the world.
In Viet Nam , as in other Socialist countries , May Day has been celebrated regularly to promote and revive the spirit of the working class and the Trade Unions. On this day, there have always been demonstrations and big marches with banners and red flags showing international friendship and solidarity.
May Day is considered as a special festival of Vietnamese as well . All people have two days off work on April 30th and May 1st . Vietnamese people commemorate a victory of Sai Gon ( Ho Chi Minh city ) . Many young men take part in folk games in different locals such as ; " tug of war " , " race boat " , " race horse" , " bull fight" , etc ....
People 'd like to have special activities on particular occasion to show that it is an event to be remembered. Forexample, many talks on the history and development of May Day and Victory of Sai Gon in the South of Viet Nam celebrations have been given in schools. All teachers and students are very eager to participate in the lecture.
The Colourful banners appear everywhere on the roads in the centre of cities. Sometimes, they organize attractive dancing and singing performances in the public of square of the city. Every family usually have a party and drink beer, champagne and make traditional food in order to commemorate the days.
The festivities in Vietnam end with a huge firework display. The blue, red, violet, green, yellow and white , light up the night sky and fall like shooting stars in to the water below at the Sword Lake ( Hoan Kiem lake) and West lake in centre of Ha Noi capital.
Published by literature book grade 9
updated information by Kim
Thứ Sáu, 25 tháng 4, 2008
Thứ Năm, 24 tháng 4, 2008
HUONG PAGODA FESTIVAL
Sailing on Yen spring
The Chua Huong ( Perfume Pagoda ) festival , the biggest and longest annual festival in Viet Nam , is opened in My Duc district , northern of Ha Tay provice ( joined in Ha Noi in 1st Aug 2008 ) , on 6th January lunar month .
The festival, lasting through 3 spring months , attracts hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country and overseas vietnamese . Visitors wish to enjoy the matchless beauty of the Huong Son lime mountains in the time when apricot forests blomssom to pay their tribute to Buddha , or more attract exactly to Avalokitasvara , one of Buddha's disciples.
A legend says that the festival is to worship a princess by the name of Dieu Thien who incarnated Avalokitasvara and attained Enlightenment there. As the princess was born on 19th Feb lunar month , that date is now observed by all Buddhists of Vietnam as the Buddhist Saint Day besides Buddha's birthday on 8th April lunar month . The shrine in which she had practised her religion was discovered in the 15th century by three monks. However, it was not until 1687 when the superior bonze Tran Dao Vien Quang had come to the place that Huong Son ( perfume Mountain ) was transformed in to a major Buddhist sanctuary and the greatest worshipping palace in nature of Buddhists in Vietnam.
The festival is offically begun by what is called the ceremony to " open the forest " at Ngu Nhac temple , the first stop on the road leading to the main pagoda which lies on a high mountain. Although one may use a land road to reach the main pagoda, but most pilgrims today prefer a boat trip along the stream meandering between two rows of mountains to contemplate the beauty of the scenery which can hardly be found anywhere else. The Archeologists have found in several caves on the Huong Son mountain range indisputable evidences of the presence of early man.
The fairy like scenery of Huong Son has been a source of inexhaustible inspiration for many poets, writers, and composers ; Chu Manh Trinh , a well-known poet in the 19th century. wrote :
" Under the sky is the landscape of Buddha ,
The joy of visiting Huong Son is the dream of everyone
Look ! the mountains, the water , the clouds ,
People wonder , if is here the land of fairies ? "
In order to ensure safe journeys for pilgrims this year , the local authority has set up a festival organising board to manage services and cultural activities , also preparing about 4,000 boats and expanding road leading to the main pagoda , cable cars to reach to the main cave on the top of mountain. In the first days of lunar New Year , the festival received about 6,000 - 7,000 pilgrims each day. People think that they will get more lucky for a prosperity , healthy year in the first opening days of festival. Besides festival time , it is also welcome visitors to Huong Son everymonth to have more chances to discover religious belief.
The festival, lasting through 3 spring months , attracts hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country and overseas vietnamese . Visitors wish to enjoy the matchless beauty of the Huong Son lime mountains in the time when apricot forests blomssom to pay their tribute to Buddha , or more attract exactly to Avalokitasvara , one of Buddha's disciples.
A legend says that the festival is to worship a princess by the name of Dieu Thien who incarnated Avalokitasvara and attained Enlightenment there. As the princess was born on 19th Feb lunar month , that date is now observed by all Buddhists of Vietnam as the Buddhist Saint Day besides Buddha's birthday on 8th April lunar month . The shrine in which she had practised her religion was discovered in the 15th century by three monks. However, it was not until 1687 when the superior bonze Tran Dao Vien Quang had come to the place that Huong Son ( perfume Mountain ) was transformed in to a major Buddhist sanctuary and the greatest worshipping palace in nature of Buddhists in Vietnam.
The festival is offically begun by what is called the ceremony to " open the forest " at Ngu Nhac temple , the first stop on the road leading to the main pagoda which lies on a high mountain. Although one may use a land road to reach the main pagoda, but most pilgrims today prefer a boat trip along the stream meandering between two rows of mountains to contemplate the beauty of the scenery which can hardly be found anywhere else. The Archeologists have found in several caves on the Huong Son mountain range indisputable evidences of the presence of early man.
The fairy like scenery of Huong Son has been a source of inexhaustible inspiration for many poets, writers, and composers ; Chu Manh Trinh , a well-known poet in the 19th century. wrote :
" Under the sky is the landscape of Buddha ,
The joy of visiting Huong Son is the dream of everyone
Look ! the mountains, the water , the clouds ,
People wonder , if is here the land of fairies ? "
In order to ensure safe journeys for pilgrims this year , the local authority has set up a festival organising board to manage services and cultural activities , also preparing about 4,000 boats and expanding road leading to the main pagoda , cable cars to reach to the main cave on the top of mountain. In the first days of lunar New Year , the festival received about 6,000 - 7,000 pilgrims each day. People think that they will get more lucky for a prosperity , healthy year in the first opening days of festival. Besides festival time , it is also welcome visitors to Huong Son everymonth to have more chances to discover religious belief.
Quoted poetry of Chu Manh Trinh .
Written by Kim
Thứ Tư, 16 tháng 4, 2008
HOLIDAYS GOOD OR BAD ?
Nowadays, the living standard of vietnamese people have been improving sufficiently , so that they care for special days in a year much more than since 15 years ago. Some industrial sectors have also applied consumer's demand. So many kind of entertainments service and souvenir shops appear everywhere. Especially, most of them are displayed on festival days , highlight spots where visitors gather a lot. In addition, Traditional holidays are special occasions that we maintain our religious, historical and cultural significance . Moreover, it brings life more meaningful , cheerful to enrich our spirit. However, it also brings a little on commercialized in these days.
Holiday is a good chance to introduce cultural value , history to visitors and oversea friends that this shows folk music. It is also an occassion to exchange folk custom , culture ,religious activities in different areas. Forexample, many performances of folk music show in public to celebrate on these days. All singers are native local people who wear traditional clothes, Ao Dai , Ao Tu Than, Non ... They can sing and dance folk songs. It is extremely excited visitors .
Holiday is a good chance to introduce cultural value , history to visitors and oversea friends that this shows folk music. It is also an occassion to exchange folk custom , culture ,religious activities in different areas. Forexample, many performances of folk music show in public to celebrate on these days. All singers are native local people who wear traditional clothes, Ao Dai , Ao Tu Than, Non ... They can sing and dance folk songs. It is extremely excited visitors .
It also brings more benefit to families, sectors of the economy and government. Most people feel very cheerful , happy time on this days. They like walking on the streets with colourful bands to live in atmosphere of festivity across the nation. Some of them take their families to famous restaurants to have a warm delicious meal. Of cousre, it is a good time for members in family to give and receive gifts and express feeling.
Children look forward to wearing new shirts and reveiving lucky money from parents or relatives on New Year Day. Some friends who live far from home can keep in touch each other by sending postcards, presents , messages mails....
On the other hand, People spend money on gifts, holiday products, ... jobs are created. Sectors of economy have been developing , more and more toy factories and art handicrafts import-export companies in Vietnam are opened. Advertisement services on television are very popular on festival days. These works support our lives better and further profits to make business increasingly. Higher income profits pay more tax revenues that support medicine , education , security and other government services.
However, It makes the rich and the poor are more and more different. It is also a distant space of them. On these days , some rich people usually take part in a big party with friends or go to the theatre , cinema to enjoy attractive shows. Some other ones go shopping , they want to have deluxe gifts, dresses, jewelry,... It is a good occassion for them to enjoy and perform their powerful finance. In contrast, The poor don't have enough effort to buy good clothes and nice gifts on these days. Children , who come from poor families , have never been received any presents from parents. They even haven't enough food to support lives. The words like " theatre", " cinema", " party ", or " picnic" are completely far from them, that's so luxury for them.
In fact, the spirit of the holidays in modern vietnamese people lives are reduced. When I was a school girl , my closed friend gave me a handkerchief with embroidery patterns which she made by herself. I was very delighted and so much thankful for her gift. I 've kept it for many years now. But today, our society has been developing and people don't have much time to make gifts by hands to beloved people. They usually get it at souvenir shops . It seems to be normal to do so. Producers often change new designs , styles to catch up with consumer's demand.
In conclusion , in spite of a little negative on commercialized holidays , not all people are troubled by the spirit of commercialism on these days. Many people enjoy the festivity of exchanging cards, gifts so that festival activities need to be preserved and developed in our lives. It should be more presentative opening to invite oversea friends come to Vietnam now. It is also a good chance to express feeling , and make our relationships closer and closer.
Written by Kim
Thứ Bảy, 12 tháng 4, 2008
THE WAYS OF GREETING IN MY COUNTRY
Greetings has been considered to be one of the ways show deep feelings , respect and great care among people to people in communication for a long time. Greeting in Asian countries in general and in my country, Viet Nam, in particular is really necessary in daily life. Nowadays, there are two ways of greetings each other existing parallelly in my country such as THE TRADITIONAL WAY and THE MODERN ONE.
In terms of the traditional way of greeting, people in Vietnam always regard greeting higher than a feast. So they can greeting each other anywhere or anytime they see each other just to show their care. The ways they say hello to each other are also very various. People, especially the old people, always take much care of this. They often ask each other very simple and personal questions such as " where are you going ? "did you have a meal ? " or " what are you doing ? " etc... .. Besides, they sometimes clap their hands together and bend their bodies to greeting each other in some very ritual atmostphare.
On the other hand, since my country opened the door with the world the face of its has changed a lot. Many cultures and customs has also entered in to Viet Nam. It had a great influence on the young, also the ways of greeting have got this new wind as well. People are gradually changing the traditional ways of greeting. People at work, meeting, conference or in the public have other ways of greeting. Shaking hand seems to be one of the most popular ways now. A tight or loose shaking is also a signal of good or bad relationship at work. In addition , holding and kissing is also being accepted among a group of people somewhere in Vietnam.
With two ways of greeting each other which exist parallelly in my country such as traditional and modern ones help people be closer and closer. Vietnam is now on the way of joining the world , so it should be inherited , learnt and improved new things which make us more tactful , and more polite in communicative situations.
Written by Kim
In terms of the traditional way of greeting, people in Vietnam always regard greeting higher than a feast. So they can greeting each other anywhere or anytime they see each other just to show their care. The ways they say hello to each other are also very various. People, especially the old people, always take much care of this. They often ask each other very simple and personal questions such as " where are you going ? "did you have a meal ? " or " what are you doing ? " etc... .. Besides, they sometimes clap their hands together and bend their bodies to greeting each other in some very ritual atmostphare.
On the other hand, since my country opened the door with the world the face of its has changed a lot. Many cultures and customs has also entered in to Viet Nam. It had a great influence on the young, also the ways of greeting have got this new wind as well. People are gradually changing the traditional ways of greeting. People at work, meeting, conference or in the public have other ways of greeting. Shaking hand seems to be one of the most popular ways now. A tight or loose shaking is also a signal of good or bad relationship at work. In addition , holding and kissing is also being accepted among a group of people somewhere in Vietnam.
With two ways of greeting each other which exist parallelly in my country such as traditional and modern ones help people be closer and closer. Vietnam is now on the way of joining the world , so it should be inherited , learnt and improved new things which make us more tactful , and more polite in communicative situations.
Written by Kim
TRADITIONAL TET IN VIET NAM
Everyone is looking forward to TET , the day on January 1st in lunar New Year . It's coming in early spring , all kind of flowers bloom , peach-blossom signal early spring.
According to Vietnamese's customs, TET is considered a special festival biggest holiday. People always see each other , visit their relatives . They are staying together to have celebrations , it is the day of a family reunion. Many traditional cakes , dishes , delicious food are served on these days. The traditional food symbolizes in different forms of each area in country.
Chung cake ( Banh Chung ) is mainly served for feasts on these days. It is cut with 6 parts , display on the altar. People said that Chung cake represents the earth which human was born and grow up. It has a special flavour of TET and the biggest holiday in the year . Yummy !!!
Kim
According to Vietnamese's customs, TET is considered a special festival biggest holiday. People always see each other , visit their relatives . They are staying together to have celebrations , it is the day of a family reunion. Many traditional cakes , dishes , delicious food are served on these days. The traditional food symbolizes in different forms of each area in country.
Chung cake ( Banh Chung ) is mainly served for feasts on these days. It is cut with 6 parts , display on the altar. People said that Chung cake represents the earth which human was born and grow up. It has a special flavour of TET and the biggest holiday in the year . Yummy !!!
Kim
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