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Chemnitz / Dresden (dpa / sn) - The Vietnamese in Saxony have to forego the usual big celebrations with acquaintances and friends this year because of the Corona crisis for their traditional New Year's festival Tet.
"Unfortunately, no celebrations are currently possible," said the chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Dresden, Bui Truong Binh, the German press agency.
"Of course we adhere to the Corona rules."
Therefore, the members of his association will celebrate the Tet Festival in their families and only wish friends from afar health, happiness and success.
Tet is the common abbreviation for Tet Nguyen Dan - in English "Feast of the First Morning".
It is considered the most important festival for Vietnamese - comparable to Christmas in Germany.
The date is based on the lunar calendar, as in China, among other things.
This year it falls on February 12th.
Then the year of the Ox begins.
The traditions at the Tet Festival include special dishes such as sticky rice cakes, but also fireworks, which are supposed to drive away bad luck and evil spirits, as well as giving away red envelopes with lucky money.
According to the 2019 microcensus, around 188,000 people of Vietnamese descent live in Germany, around 16,000 of them in Saxony.
During the GDR era, tens of thousands of Vietnamese came to East Germany as students and contract workers.
They are considered to be the oldest immigrant group here.
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Every year, 400 to 500 Vietnamese people celebrate the Tet Festival in a large hall in Chemnitz, as reported by the local club leader Ke Phan Dac.
The preparations usually start months in advance.
There are usually dance and show performances.
Because this is not possible this year due to corona, the association has published photos and videos of the celebration last year on its Facebook page.
This time, the New Year's festival is only celebrated in a small group at home, emphasized the club boss.
In addition, the apartments are decorated with blossoming peach branches.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210211-99-391629 / 2
Association of the Vietnamese in Dresden
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Microcensus 2019 - Population with a migration background
Association of the Vietnamese Chemnitz on Facebook