Unfurling a New Year

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The Vietnamese American community welcomed the Year of the Tiger on Saturday, when thousands flocked to Golden West College to celebrate the beginning of Tet.

Tet, the Vietnamese lunar new year, is perhaps the most important holiday celebrated by the Vietnamese and Chinese.

The celebrations include the traditional dragon dance, a fireworks display and paying homage to ancestors at an altar stocked with food offerings.

The holiday officially begins Wednesday, but about 100,000 people were expected to get a jump on the festivities over the weekend at Golden West’s 16th annual Tet Festival, sponsored by the Vietnamese Student Assns. of Southern California.

“Celebrating Tet is important to us because it keeps our culture and traditions alive,” said Wendy Phan, 17. “I was born in the United States and don’t understand everything about the holiday, but I know that it’s important for my parents and grandmother.”

Laura Nguyen, 16, said the annual festival “is a good excuse to have a big party and have fun.”

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The weekend’s celebration included dozens of men and women dressed in traditional Vietnamese clothing.

Many women, young and old, wore the ao dai, a colorful, high-necked tunic split at the waist and worn over loose-fitting trousers.

Some men wore equally colorful and decorated robes and tunics.

The aroma of Vietnamese food wafted across the field where people played carnival games and listened to Vietnamese songs.

Dozens of businesses, from investment firms to communications companies, offered their services from booths.

“Some of these people [company representatives] are offering investment opportunities in Vietnam,” Eric Lam said.

“But there are still a lot of Vietnamese who think that it would be treason to do business with the communists. But that attitude is slowly changing.”

Nevertheless, patriotism and nostalgic reminders were the order of the day at the weekend festivities.

On Saturday, the opening ceremony featured South Vietnamese veterans who marched to the stage carrying the U.S. and yellow and red South Vietnamese flags.

The anthems of the United States and the former South Vietnamese government were both played, followed by speakers who thanked the South Vietnamese soldiers “who fought for freedom and liberty.”

The festival, which includes martial arts demonstrations and theater performances, will continue today.

Tickets for the event are $3 for adults and $1 for children.

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Tet Celebrations

Tet, the Vietnamese new year, is Wednesday. Celebrations marking the year of the tiger are planned today and next weekend. Tet marks the beginning of the spring season in the lunar calendar.

TODAY

* 16th Annual Tet Festival continues

Location: Golden West College, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach

Entertainment: Traditional dragon and lion dances, a firecracker show, international folk dances, cultural performances and music

Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Admission: Adults, $3; children shorter than 3 feet, $1

Information: (714) 893-3139

* Garden Grove Tet Celebration

Location: Mall of Fortune, 9892 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove

Entertainment: Carnival, food booths, music and international folk dances

Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Admission: Adults, $3; children 7 and younger, $1

Information: (714) 537-8868

NEXT WEEKEND

* 2nd Annual Tet Parade

Date: Saturday

Start: 10 a.m.

Route: Bolsa Avenue between Magnolia and Bushard streets, Westminster

* Tet Festival

Dates: Friday through Feb. 1

Location: Garden Grove Park, 9301 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove

Entertainment: Music, dances, cultural performances, displays

Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Admission: Adults, $3; children shorter than 3 feet, free

Information: (714) 775-6820

* New Year’s Celebration

Location: New Saigon Mall, 9225 Bolsa Ave., Westminster

Dates: Thursday through Feb. 1

Entertainment: Live music, Miss Little Saigon beauty pageant, sports tournament, singing contest

Hours: Thursday and Friday, noon-9 p.m.; Saturday and Feb. 1, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Admission: Adults, $3; children under 18, $2; children shorter than 4 feet, free

Information: (714) 903-1870