How Vietnamese Catholics have embraced Tet

Hái loc thánh,’ or the picking of holy buds, is an important way to strengthen faith

Feb 04, 2025

 

By Alex Hoang
As the Lunar New Year, or Tet, approaches, Vietnamese people prepare for a fresh start, filled with hopes of happiness, prosperity, and good fortune.

Among the many customs that mark this festive season, one of the most cherished traditions is seeking guidance for the year ahead. In Buddhist and folk beliefs, this is done through Xin xam, or drawing a "sortilege" — a small slip of paper from a temple or pagoda that is believed to reveal one's fate for the year.

Vietnamese Catholics, however, have adapted the tradition to align with their faith. Instead of relying on fortune-telling, they participate in a practice known as hái loc thánh, or "picking holy buds."

On the first day of the new year, after attending Mass, many Catholics pick a small card containing a randomly selected Bible verse. This verse is believed to serve as a personal spiritual message, offering guidance, encouragement, and inspiration for the year ahead.

An adaptation of tradition
The practice of picking a Bible verse at the start of the year is a clear example of how Catholicism in Vietnam has integrated elements of local culture.

While the original practice of xin xam involves superstition and fortune-telling, hái loc thánh redirects the tradition toward faith in God’s word. It emphasizes trust in divine providence rather than fate.

This custom is widespread in Catholic communities across Vietnam. There are various ways to practice hái loc thánh at Catholic churches at the beginning of the year.

In many parishes in northern Vietnam, the holy buds are usually hung on a large peach blossom tree. After the parishioners pick a bud, the priest gives them lucky money (lì xì).

In some churches in the former imperial city of Hue, the priest stamps a unique mark on certain buds, and those who pick them receive an additional Tet gift.

Father Peter Tuan, a priest from a parish in Hanoi, believes that hái loc thánh is an important way to strengthen faith while embracing local traditions.

“In Vietnamese culture, people seek signs of luck at the beginning of the year. But for Catholics, the greatest blessing comes from God’s word,” he explains.

“The Bible verses are not meant to predict the future but to encourage people to live with faith, love, and hope in the new year,” the priest said.

For many Vietnamese Catholics, the Bible verse chosen is not a prediction but a gift from God—a message meant to encourage personal growth and deepen faith.

Some verses provide reassurance in times of hardship, while others offer motivation to live virtuously and serve others.

Starting the Year of the Snake with faith
This year, Huy T. Nguyen, a 27-year-old engineer from Ho Chi Minh City, chose Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

As someone who has struggled with job uncertainty, Huy sees this verse as a reminder to trust God’s plan instead of worrying excessively about his career. I was anxious about switching jobs, but now I feel more at peace. This verse tells me that if I focus on doing what is right, everything else will follow," he said.

In Hanoi, Maria Mai T. Le, a mother of two, received Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

For Mai, this verse is significant as she prepares for a challenging year ahead. Her family is facing financial difficulties, and she has been considering starting a small business to support them.

"I was afraid to take the risk, but now I feel encouraged. This is the strength I need to keep going," she said.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Joseph Bao Q. Le, a university student in Hue, picked Psalm 37:5: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act."

Bao, who is preparing for an important scholarship application, sees this as a call to trust in God while continuing to do his best. It’s easy to feel lost when you're young, but this verse tells me that if I stay faithful, God will guide me," he said.

Preserving faith and culture
Vietnamese Catholicism has long demonstrated a unique ability to adapt to cultural traditions while maintaining its core religious beliefs. The practice of hái loc thánh is just one example of how local customs have been reshaped to reflect Christian values.

As Vietnam continues to modernize, this tradition remains meaningful for Catholics to begin the new year with faith, hope, and a renewed commitment to God's teachings.

In a world where uncertainty often drives people toward superstition, this practice serves as a gentle reminder that true guidance comes not from chance but from faith.--ucanews.com