Mục đích của sinh hoạt này là giúp các em hiểu thêm về TẾT, biết thêm từ vựng tiếng Việt thì tốt nhưng không bắt buộc. Những câu đơn giản, các em đều biết trả lời bằng tiếng Việt.
1. Water melon is a very popular fruit during TET, what is it called in Vietnamese? What shape is it? there any difference in color of the fruit skin and the inside of the water melon? What are the colors?
Dưa hấu -- Hình tròn -- vỏ dưa hấu màu xanh lá cây, ruột bên trong màu đỏ
2. The “five-fruit-tray” on the ancestral altar symbolizes the admiration and gratitude of Vietnamese to Heaven and Earth, and their ancestors; it also demonstrates a Vietnamese percept of life “When taking fruit, you should think of the growers”. There are usually custard apple, coconut, papaya, mango, and pineapple. Now you say two of those fruits in Vietnamese?
Mãng cầu, dừa, đu đủ, xoài, thơm
3.Lion dance is another popular activity during TET; it is believed that it takes away the evil spirits, and summons luck and fortune. What is it called in Vietnamese?
Múa lân hoặc múa sư tử (không phải múa rồng)
4. The 2 main flowers which are used to decorate in Vietnamese New Year are Peach, and Apricot flowers. What are they called in Vietnamese? Which one is dominant in the North? Which one is dominant in the South?
Hoa đào (miền Bắc); hoa mai (miền Nam)
5. According to Vietnamese tradition, Tet is not only the beginning of Year, but also everyone’s birthday (everyone turns 1 year older no matter when he/she was born); during TET, lucky money is given to children, what is it called in Vietnamese?
Lì xì (hỏi các em về sự tích tiền lì xì; Nhật Trân kể truyện này rất hay)
6. How do you say “Happy New Year” in Vietnamese?
Chúc mừng năm mới!
7. For Tet celebration, Vietnamese usually have bánh chưng and bánh dày (the sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves). What shape is bánh chung ? And what shape is bánh dày?
Bánh chưng hình vuông; bánh dày hình tròn
8. Why did people (our ancestors) at the time think that bánh chung which symbolizes the EARTH is a square cake, and bánh dày which symbolizes the HEAVEN is a circle?
With only naked eyes at the time, people simply see the sky touches the ground, and that makes them believe that the ground must be flat/square whereas the sky must be round (like the bowl upside down on the plate)
9. Based on the lunar calendar, each year has an animal associated with it. What animal is for this new year?
Con rắn
10. Do you know the year you were born? What was it, and what animal was for that year?
Various answers, but need to be one of the following 12:
Tý (Rat), Sửu (Ox), Dần (Tiger), Mẹo (Cat/Rabbit), Thìn (Dragon), Tỵ (Snake), Ngọ (Horse), Mùi (Goat), Thân (Monkey), Dậu (Rooster), Tuất (Dog), Hợi (Pig)
The kids should know that any child turning 12 years old this year should be a Snake (their animal year will return to them every 12 years)
Tý (Rat), Sửu (Ox), Dần (Tiger), Mẹo (Cat/Rabbit), Thìn (Dragon), Tỵ (Snake), Ngọ (Horse), Mùi (Goat), Thân (Monkey), Dậu (Rooster), Tuất (Dog), Hợi (Pig)
The kids should know that any child turning 12 years old this year should be a Snake (their animal year will return to them every 12 years)
11. Looking on the calendar, where is the lunar calendar, and how do you know when it is the first day of the New Year?
Xin vui lòng chỉ lại cho các em lịch Ta (Âm lịch-Lunar calendar), và lịch Tây (Dương lịch-Solar calendar)
12. What is “Vietnamese New Year” called in Vietnamese? What calendar is it based on (Solar or Lunar Calendar)?
Tết, hoặc Tết Ta, hoặc Tết Nguyên đán
Dựa trên lịch Ta.
13. We soon celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, let’s learn something about Viet Nam. Do you know what continent does Viet Nam belong to? Name that continent.
Asia (châu Á)
14. What shape does Viet Nam look like on the map?
Hình chữ S
