Inside Out and Back Again Lesson Plan

What is Tết? How is it celebrated? How does it compare to how you celebrate the holiday?

Tết is the first day of the lunar calendar, aka New Year Day, for countries who observe that calendar. On Tết in Vietnam, everyone wears new clothes and eats special foods reserved for that day, such as sugary lotus seeds and bánh chưng. Many believe how they act on that day foretells the year, so everyone must smile no matter what and be careful and aware of their activities, "No one can sweep, for why sweep away hope? No one can splash water, for why splash away joy?" It is also when everybody turns one year older, regardless of their birthday - Tết "doubles as everyone's...