This cat in Quang Tri province is voted by people on social media as the most beautiful compared to cat mascots in other localities across the country.

Belgium’s French-language television channel BX1 has broadcasted a reportage entitled "Vietnamese people celebrate Tet in Woluwe Saint-Pierre" about the Lunar New Year (Tet) that the Vietnamese Association in Belgium and the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium organized on January 22 in Brussels.

The reportage said that about 400 Vietnamese people attended the traditional Tet festival in Woluwe Saint-Pierre district where not only Vietnamese people but also Belgians said to each other “Chuc mung Nam moi” (Happy New Year), as citied by VNA.

Visitors to the festival had a chance to enjoy Vietnamese traditional foods and fruits, particularly grapefruit - an indispensable fruit during Tet celebrations.

The channel’s reporter introduced “banh mi” (Vietnamese bread) - a specialty whose name is included in the Oxford Dictionary.

The festival was decorated with parallel sentences or calligraphy brought from Vietnam.

Seeking calligraphy works of lucky words is among the elegant hobbies of Vietnamese people during the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

According to the reportage, hanging calligraphy is an indispensable decoration in the houses of Vietnamese people during Tet. To write calligraphy, one must learn for many years, and calligraphers look like performing martial arts when writing.

Besides, the Tet festival included a peformance by an art troupe from Ho Chi Minh City. The reportage emphasised that about 5,000 Vietnamese people are living in Brussels and that the Tet festival will take place for 15 days starting on January 22 which marks the first day of the Lunar Year of the Cat.

Meanwhile, India-based news site Wion ran an article entitled “Tet Holidays 2023: Vietnamese Lunar New Year origin, holiday dates, traditions & everything you need to know,” VOV cited.

It said, “There are many ways in which the Vietnamese people welcome the Lunar New Year. The people follow old traditions to celebrate the festivities and bond with the family members on the special occasion. Families will be cleaning and decorating their homes to mark the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. As families prepare a feast to worship the three kitchen guardians and pray for a well-stocked kitchen for the rest of the year, this is often the time of year for family get-togethers.”

Tet, or Lunar New Year, is the most important festival of the year for Vietnamese people and a time for family reunions. It is an opportunity for descendants to invite the souls of their ancestors to join the family’s Tet celebration.

The South China Daily (China) and the Jakarta Times (Indonesia) explained why Vietnamese people welcome the Year of the Cat and not the Year of the Rabbit like some other Asian countries.

Rice is an important part of Vietnam's agricultural economy, but the rice crop is often threatened by field rats, said South China Daily. Cats are the nemesis of mice and popular animals with Vietnamese people.

The Jakarta Times said the Year of the Cat will bring a lot of luck and smooth sailing to Vietnamese people.

According to the French news site Sortira Paris the Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday of the year for Vietnamese people. This is a tradition that has been maintained through many generations, the article said and suggested places to celebrate Tet in Paris for Vietnamese expatriates and international friends who want to learn about Vietnamese culture.

People born in the years of the Cat are typically composed, patient, kind-hearted, and esteemed by many others. They are also said to be optimistic and, thus, a source of inspiration for people around them. The Lunar New Year 2023 is the Year of the Cat. It is believed that if feng shui cat figurines are placed appropriately, they will bring about good fortune, prosperity, and good luck to owners. The Cat is the fourth animal symbol in the 12-year cycle of the Vietnamese zodiac. People born in the Year of the Cat are assessed as intelligent, clever, agile and subtle, with a far-sighted vision. They often treat people with enthusiasm and kindness, and are always ready to help others when they are in need. At work and in life, these people are quick-witted, intelligent, imaginative and clear-headed, so they can succeed in areas that need precise calculation, business or art. Being optimistic, honest, and easy to forgive others and adapting to any situation are also their outstanding characteristics. Most of them are sensitive and emotional, and have a rich internal life. Meanwhile, the feng shui cat or fortune cat is a favourite symbol of many people as they believe it can beckon good luck, happiness, optimistic spirit, and good health while warding off bad lucks in the daily life. Therefore, many choose feng shui cat figurines as gifts or decorations in their homes.

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