Year of the cat: Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival in Montreal

Montreal’s Vietnamese community celebrated a Lunar New Year festival on Sunday.

Tết Quý Mão officially begins Jan. 22.

The celebrations for the “year of the cat” at Montreal’s Gare Windsor kicked off with the Canadian and Vietnamese national anthems.

Highlighted at Sunday’s event were custom traditions such as ancestor worship, dragon dancing, musical performances, and the distribution of lucky red envelopes to children.

There was also traditional food.

“The Asian culture, it’s really starting the new year fresh,” said Nathalie Pham, the vice-president of external affairs with Viet Montreal. “So everything you do in terms of tradition is kind of washing off the bad of the previous year and starting fresh. Down to even your clothes, it has to be spot clean. People would go out and buy new outfits, buy new food because how to celebrate your new year, they see it has a reflection of the upcoming year.

“This is a way to honour our values and our culture but also an opportunity to modernize it and bring it to today’s generation.”

#WATCH: Tết Quý Mão officially begins Jan. 22 and runs until Feb. 9, 2024. The celebrations today feature custom traditions such as ancestor worship, dragon dancing, musical performances, distribution of lucky red envelopes to children, traditional food and more. @CityNewsMTL pic.twitter.com/eBd2Dg9a2B

— Brittany Henriques (@BritHenriques) January 8, 2023

Tết celebrations can last upwards of a week – the new year celebration in Vietnamese culture follows a lunisolar calendar with months based on the phases of the moon.

The occasion is celebrated with family and loved ones, with everyone wishing for prosperity and luck in the new year.

“My favourite part is the dragon dancing,” said Doan Nguyen, a scout leader with Lạc Việt. “It’s really incredible. We don’t have that all year long – it’s only once a year. And here you can find all the Vietnamese food so it’s great.”

Tradition passed down for generations

The tradition continues to be passed down to generations of Vietnamese Montrealers who are often second, third and fourth generation immigrants who fled during the Vietnam war.

“It reminds me a lot of when I was younger,” said Marylyn Tran, the owner of Tran restaurant. “I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. I’m from Montreal and I’m very proud to be here today and being a part of this because it’s such a big community with everyone together and I’m really proud of everyone.

“Still having my values and knowing my roots, the Vietnamese language, it’s gold.”

Hieb Le, a scout leader with Lạc Việt, says it’s all about culture.

“And you try to show them what our custom is about because we want to keep them knowing what their origin is about. Even though if they’re Canadian, a part of them still belongs to Vietnam. And it’s important for them to know where they come from.”

Festivities as part of Lunar New Year at Montreal’s Gare Windsor on Jan. 8, 2023. (Credit: CityNews/Brittany Henriques)