In the last days of the year, more and more stories related to celebrating Tet are shared on social networks. In addition to marital conflicts, there are also many brides who happily confide about the special things in the way they celebrate Tet in their husband’s family.
Recently, a daughter-in-law named Mai shared a Tet story related to her mother-in-law.
Mai has been married for nearly 3 years, but this year is only the second Tet she has celebrated at her husband’s house. Mai’s husband’s family is quite pleasant, her mother-in-law is young, her father-in-law understands, so she feels comfortable doing anything and doesn’t have to worry.
However, Tet is not just about celebrating Tet within the family, so it is inevitable that the table will be lavish, when guests come, they will bring trays in and out, and all day there is only cooking and washing dishes. Therefore, Mai is also a little afraid of Tet.
Mai said: “ To be honest, the first year my husband’s family celebrated Tet, it was a bit scary. In my hometown, celebrating Tet is very simple, I come to wish New Year and eat some sunflower candy. In my husband’s hometown, it’s different. Whenever guests come in, they bring out a tray to invite them. They don’t eat much, but they drink a lot of wine to celebrate.
It’s cold out here, so all day my mother-in-law and I just work hard cooking, washing dishes, and then bringing trays in and out. During the 3 days of Tet like that, thinking back I still feel embarrassed. It’s true that only after getting married do I understand why the ladies at the office keep saying Tet is scary.”
Illustration photo.
Perhaps because of such continuous work, in recent years, many people have complained more and more about being “afraid of Tet”, “being eaten by Tet instead of celebrating Tet”. Mai herself also has those worries, but the difference is that she has a modern and very understanding mother-in-law.
This year, because of work in the city, the couple returned to their husband’s house on the morning of Tet 28 to prepare everything.
Before that, when she called to ask about shopping, her mother-in-law told Mai directly that she didn’t have to buy anything because she had already bought it all.
Even the day before her husband called and offered to give money to her parents for Tet shopping, her grandparents also refused and even gently “scolded” her: “No money, our parents have money, we can still do business. Keep the money there and spend it to save up to pay off your debt. Every Tet, your parents always cover you. If you want to buy a box of beer for dad, then buy it, just the money.”
Mai said:
“On the morning of the 28th, as soon as I got home and finished putting things away, my mother-in-law called the couple over to talk. To be honest, I was in my second year when I was having Tet with my husband’s family, so I was very worried. I didn’t know if I had done something wrong and my mother’s face was so serious.
As soon as I sat down, my mother said: “Mom and Dad have discussed it before, this year our family will have a shorter Tet celebration. Mom will put everything on the table, I only make soup and stir-fry for my grandparents on the first day.
Besides, this year my parents planned to go on the 1st to wish my grandparents a happy New Year and then the whole family went on a trip from the morning of the 2nd. Mom also wanted to rest a bit during Tet, thinking about the table made her scared. Your father also thinks so, it’s true, he’s very afraid of alcohol, so why don’t people drink during Tet? So my parents discussed going on a trip during Tet, both resting and celebrating the new Tet. How do you guys feel?
Listening to my mother-in-law, I couldn’t believe my ears. It’s a funny thing but mom makes a serious face, it’s scary. I also admired people who dared to think about a new Tet. I didn’t expect that my parents-in-law also prepared for this and were determined to do it.
My husband’s parents also told me that if my daughter-in-law likes it, she can go to her grandmother’s house to celebrate New Year’s Eve. On the morning of the 2nd day, my grandparents drove by to wish my parents Happy New Year and then picked me up to go on a trip together.
Of course, my husband and I support both hands and feet. So this afternoon, the whole family just went to the flower market to buy decorations. The rest have already been ordered. Just think of the Tet scene without a lavish table, without a day to wash a lot of dishes, then this is truly “eating Tet”, “Tet holiday” in the true sense.
Illustration photo.
That’s why, many times, parents-in-law also have a way to celebrate Tet that is both new and modern. Celebrating Tet in such a gentle and enjoyable way is the wish of many brides.
