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Vietnamese Catholics celebrate Tèt in Roanoke

By Jean Denton
Special to The Catholic Virginian

The Catholic Vietnamese American community of the Roanoke Valley hosted a festive celebration of Tèt, the Vietamese New Year, with a gathering of several hundred people on Feb. 8.

After a Mass concelebrated by visiting priest, Father Vinh Luu, CSsR, and Father John Prinelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Pearisburg, people participated in traditional ceremonies honoring their Vietnamese ancestors, community elders, teachers and children.

Father Prinelli has served the Roanoke Vietnamese Catholic community for many years and until recently celebrated Mass in Vietnamese at St. Andrew’s Church. Father Luu now travels from Washington, D.C. periodically to say Mass in Vietnamese in Roanoke. About 100 people regularly attend Vietnamese-language Mass, according to Kim Huynh an active member of the community.

The three-day Tèt celebration combines traditions similar to the American holidays of Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and birthdays.

Coming at about the same time as Lent begins, the Vietnamese New Year also calls forth renewal in nature and the life of the family.

The family is at the center of the celebration as children, grandparents and parents give thanks for each other and for their teachers as well.

In a special ceremony the priests handed out “bành tèt” or earthcakes, made from rice, to older members of the community and then presented the children with “lì xi” — red envelopes with money inside — to bring good luck during the New Year.

The Roanoke celebration, which has been held annually since 1992, is an effort “that we hope will preserve our culture for our families,” Ms. Huynh said.

It included singing and dance performances by children and adults in traditional dress as well as dramatic interpretations of Vietnamese folklore.

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