Celebrating "Tet" without red envelopes

"You'll do well this year too because cats catch the rats!" my dad exclaimed.  My first thought was that a life of chasing rodents is an existence that I don't want to have. I remember Tom & Jerry and I don't remember Tom ever successfully catching Jerry.  But apparently the Year of the Rat is a lucky year for those born as cats.  These two animals live in rivalry and in this year, I will be able to "one up on the rat" according to lunar year horoscopes.

Confused as to where the cat comes in?  In the Vietnamese zodiac, the cat replaces the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. The Vietnamese zodiac uses most of the same animals for the remaining 10 years, though the ox and sheep are replaced by water buffalo and goat respectively.  For the most part, the customs surrounding Lunar New Year is the same in Vietnam as they are in China. 

While our family doesn't make a big production of things, I still make an effort to come home to spend time with my parents.  I think that's the most important custom for Tet, to be with family and to pay respects to ancestors.  Yesterday mom bought peach flowers for the house and made special foods as an offering to Buddha.  She also bought several loaves of "banh chung" for me.  We didn't make it to the temple this year but I did say prayers before going to bed last night.  A simple prayer for health and happiness for each person in my life.