Task 2 statements are often a paraphrasing of the initial question. Support your opinion: Once you have made your opinion clear, you have to provide facts to justify your choice State the opposing point of you. You do not have to persuade the examiner about the opposing opinion, but it is important to state what it is. Summarise your opinion. Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet, is Vietnam's Lunar New Year, which lasts 5-7 days and is the country's most important yearly festival and public holiday. Tet marks the start of a new year as well as the arrival of spring. Traditional cuisine, music, and dragon dance are all performed in the streets as part of the raucous celebrations. There is a Even during the lean years of the late 1970s through the mid-80s, when Vietnam's economy was strictly controlled by the government, Nguyen Phan Que Mai's family managed to gracefully celebrate Tet holiday is the most important holiday of the year in Vietnam. This holiday is based on the lunar calendar and is marks the Vietnamese new year. It falls in January or February each year. It is a time when children receive new clothes, money, and families come together to eat and celebrate. Considered the first day of spring and most important of national holidays in Vietnam, Tet is the annual Vietnamese New Year celebration, coinciding with the Lunar New Year celebrated throughout the world in January or February. Technically, "Tet" is a shortened (thank goodness!) form of Tết Nguyên Đán, a way to say "Lunar New Year" in Vietnamese. k8jg0qY. New Year’s celebrations are some of the most important holidays worldwide. They’re an opportunity for us to make resolutions and look back on what we’ve achieved in months passed. Jump ahead to these sections What Is Vietnamese New Year Tet? When Is the Vietnamese New Year and How Long Does It Last? How Do You Wish Someone a Happy New Year’ in Vietnam? Vietnamese New Year Traditions Countries that follow the Gregorian calendar, including the United States, celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1 each year. But some countries that have historically observed the lunar calendar, including Vietnam, hold their New Year’s festivals on a different date each year. The Vietnamese New Year’s celebration is called Tet, and in many ways, it’s comparable to other Lunar New Year festivals. But Tet is also unique in many ways. What Is Vietnamese New Year Tet? Tết Nguyên Đán, or Tet for short, is Vietnam’s New Year. Tet is one of the most important festivals in Vietnam, and it incorporates the country’s rich culture and storied history. For the people of Vietnam, Tet is like our New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and Christmas celebrations all rolled into one extravagant festival. Tet marks the beginning of spring in Vietnam, as well as the beginning of the new year according to the lunar calendar. Technically, there are many Tet festivals throughout the year in Vietnam. But the Tet festival that marks the beginning of a new lunar year is the biggest and most sacred. That’s why the Vietnamese New Year is known worldwide simply as “Tet.” Origin Tet, or the Lunar New Year in Vietnam, is the time of year when winter is coming to an end and spring is beginning. The people of Vietnam have long-held beliefs that, at this time of year, the universe is ending one cycle and beginning another. It’s also believed that the first day and week of the lunar new year determines a person’s fate for the year ahead. Therefore, the people of Vietnam often take extra care to start the new year off right. They might be cautious of anything that could bring misfortune. Additionally, people usually focus on positivity in relationships and avoid starting arguments. Everyone treats each other more generously, settles their debts, and forgives their differences before and during the Vietnamese New Year. Who celebrates Tet is a national holiday in Vietnam. However, different regions and religions practice slightly different traditions across the country. For example, some regions prepare foods based on what’s locally available—like regional fruits and vegetables. Some religions focus on ancestral worship during Tet, while for others, it may be optional. When Is the Vietnamese New Year and How Long Does It Last? The Vietnamese New Year takes place at the start of a new lunar year. Although the people of Vietnam observe the solar Gregorian calendar, the Solar New Year generally isn’t as important as the Lunar New Year. Because the people of China also observe the key dates of the lunar calendar, Vietnamese New Year is on the same date as Chinese New Year. Below are the dates of the first day of Tet in coming years 2022 February 1 2023 January 22 2024 February 10 2025 January 29 Tet is officially a three-day national holiday in Vietnam. However, including preparations for Tet events, the holiday can stretch up to a week or longer. How Do You Wish Someone a Happy New Year’ in Vietnam? If you’re visiting Vietnam for Vietnamese New Year, it’s a good idea to know how to wish people “Happy New Year” properly. In general, the Vietnamese New Year is a time to wish everyone prosperity and good fortune. Some traditional Tet greetings are “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới.” - Happy New Year. “Cung Chúc Tân Xuân.” - Gracious wishes of the new spring. “Sức khỏe dồi dào.” - Plenty of health. “Cung hỉ phát tài.” - Congratulations and be prosperous. “An khang thịnh vượng.” - Security, good health, and prosperity. “Vạn sự như ý.” May many things go according to your will. » MORE Do you need to get your affairs in order ASAP? Start in minutes. Vietnamese New Year Traditions The Vietnamese New Year is the biggest and most grand celebration in this Asian nation. It comes with many unique traditions, from preparing for the festival and cooking historical dishes to giving gifts and paying respect to the ancestors. Preparation Part of the Vietnamese New Year celebration begins before the date even arrives. In the days or weeks leading up to Tet, Vietnamese households often perform a deep-cleaning. This is thought to rid the home of any bad luck remaining from the previous year. Families clear weeds out of their yards, burn incense, and stock the kitchen with food. The streets are typically lined with numerous vendors, providing an assortment of fresh flowers, fruit, and decorations. Family members often reunite in the days before Tet to prepare for the holiday together. Decorations Households across Vietnam are decorated brightly and colorfully for the holiday of Tet. The colors red and yellow are thought to bring good luck, so you’ll typically see these colors everywhere. Additionally, families use a number of flowering plants to represent the new spring. These plants have their own symbology. Bamboo The bamboo tree, or cay neu, represents the new year. The family strips the tree of its leaves in preparation for Tet, leaving only the leaves at the crown. They then decorate the tree with red paper and other objects. Peach blossom According to Vietnamese tradition, the peach blossom tree wards off evil spirits. It’s common to display a flowering peach tree in the home to bring good fortune during Tet. Kumquat A kumquat tree represents the many generations of a family. The fruits represent the many members of the family tree. Food As Tet approaches, people in Vietnam stock their kitchens full of food to prepare for the festival. And while they tend to stock up on nearly everything, there are a few dishes specific to the festival of Vietnamese New Year. Pig feet One of the main traditional dishes served on Tet is pig’s feet stewed with bamboo shoots. Side dishes may include steamed rice, stir-fried almonds, papaya salad, bitter gourd, and mung bean pudding. Banh day and banh chung Banh day and banh chung are two types of traditional cakes prepared during the Vietnamese New Year celebration. They date all the way back to the eighth generation of the first Vietnamese royal dynasty. Banh day or banh giay is a flat, round, white rice cake. It’s traditionally wrapped in banana leaves and served with a type of Vietnamese sausage. Banh chung is a rice cake made of glutinous rice, pork, mung beans, and other ingredients. Mut Another traditional food associated with the Vietnamese New Year is candied fruit called Mut. These snacks are traditionally served to guests while they wait for the meal to begin. Mut generally consists of pumpkins, apples, ginger root, and oranges, as well as other regional plants and fruits. Thit Heo Kho More tropical regions of Vietnam serve dishes with a base of coconut milk and oil. One example of this is Thit Heo Kho pork stewed in coconut milk. Pickled vegetables Traditional Tet food often comes paired with pickled vegetables, which aid in the digestion of the richer ingredients. Pickled produce may include green sprouts, carrots, turnips, and leeks. Gifts Tet is a time of immense gratitude and generosity. To set the year off on the right foot, individuals and families go out of their ways to give gifts and spread good fortune. Symbolic plants As mentioned above, several plants play a key role in Tet celebrations. Plants like flowering peach and kumquat trees and sell out fast in the days before Tet begins. If you can get your hands on one, a fruit tree like this makes for a valuable Tet gift. Money During Tet, many children receive a gift of money. It comes wrapped in a red envelope, which is thought to ward off evil spirits. The money always comes in even denominations, as odd numbers are thought to bring bad luck. Food One of the most traditional gifts you can give for Tet is the gift of a good meal. Households often invite guests in for a feast and serve snacks—Mut—as the guests wait. Dress The key to dressing for the holiday of Tet is wearing bright colors. Specifically, the colors red and yellow are believed to bring good luck and fortune. Bright blue, green, and other colors are also acceptable. The one thing to avoid when dressing for Tet is wearing black and white. Black and white are the colors traditionally worn to a Vietnamese funeral. You should avoid wearing them during the celebratory holiday of Tet. Ancestors Part of ensuring good luck and positive energy in the upcoming year is showing gratitude to the ancestors. That’s why many families and individuals take the opportunity, during their days off for Tet, to visit their loved ones’ gravesites. It’s common to see the people of Vietnam cleaning gravestones and tending to the graves of their ancestors during Tet, as well as making offerings to ancestral altars. Celebrating Tet Worldwide Tet is a fascinating festival, and its focus on ancestral worship provides an example of acknowledging death in different cultures. And even if you’re not visiting Vietnam this lunar new year, you can still celebrate the spirit of Tet wherever you are. The underlying message of Tet is positivity and ringing in the new year as best you can. Mark this lunar new year by showing gratitude to friends and family—whether living or dead. You can even prepare for Tet with some spring cleaning and by preparing traditional Tet foods. If you're looking for more on lunar celebrations around the world, read our guide on the Tibetan New Year, Losar. Sources “The meaning of Tet Festival.” “Celebrating Tết The history of Bánh Dầy & Bánh Chưng.” WKTV Journal. 19 January 2017. “Tet Nguyen Dan The Vietnamese New Year.” Queens Botanical Garden. Describe an important holiday or festival that is celebrated in your country You should say When this celebration takes placeWhat people do during this celebrationWhat you especially like and dislike about this celebrationAnd explain why it is important. ANSWER Today, I am going to talk about an important holiday or festival that is celebrated in my country called Lunar New Year. Besides the Western calendar’s New Year , the Vietnamese people also celebrate Lunar New Year according to the lunar calendar. The Lunar New Year, or Tet usually takes place around the end of January or the beginning of February, depending on when the lunar calendar ends. Tet provides the opportunity for reunions for Vietnamese families, as people tend to return to their hometowns at this time of the year. Like the Christmas tree in Western countries, in Vietnam, we buy a kumquat tree, an apricot blossom tree or some branches to decorate our houses. People also buy new clothes and clean their houses to welcome in the New Year. Some families make “Chung cake”, a traditional cake for this special occasion. Chung cake is made of rice, mung beans and fat pork, wrapped in a banana leaf in the shape of a square. It is then boiled overnight until it is cooked. During the Tet holiday, Vietnamese visit their relatives to wish them all a happy new year. They also go to the pagodas frequently to wish for a better year to come for their families. Adults give lucky money to children. I think this is the only time of year when people can forget about all the worries of their daily lives, when they can relax, enjoy, indulge themselves, and get ready for another new year. VOCABULARY Western calendar also known as the Gregorian calendar, this calendar is used in Western countries and the New Year begins with the first day of International companies usually follow the Western calendar, though their country may also follow a different to as stated or indicated by; following; based According to the Center for Disease Control, all travelers should be up-to-date with their place around to occur during a certain time period, around is used in this instance to give you a general idea of when something happens, rather than a very specific The festival takes place around the beginning of May each year, though we won’t know the exact start date until March on to be contingent on, something will not happen unless something else happens Depending on the score you get on your exam, you may qualify for a a time when people gather together again after not having seen each other for a while; you can have family reunions, class reunions, work reunions, The graduating class of 1985 had a class reunion this past summer and it was fantastic to see all my old classmates to used to describe when you usually do I tend to visit my mom on your hometown is the town where you spent most or all of your childhood; it is often the town where your parents still This will be the first time she has returned to her hometown after living abroad for five a small fruit-bearing tree with small, round, orange fruit that is commonly used in preservers and My father brought home a kumquat tree for to put things up around the home to make it look nice, to include things like flowers, artwork, lights, candles, and other types of My sister loves to decorate her room with posters of the One Direction welcome in the New Year used to express the idea that you are excited for a new year to begin, so you welcome it in or invite it in. In is used to express that it is as if you were welcoming a friend into your home or into your People in New York City are welcoming in the New Year with the dropping of the ball at Times occasion a special event or A wedding is a special occasion that many people enjoy the point when there are bubbles in the water that you are heating; water boils when it reaches 100 degrees “A watched pot never – This is a saying that means that something we wait for with impatient attention seems to take Lasting for, extending over, or remaining during a night, until the morning She left the cat out overnight and luckily it didn’t get eaten by wish them to want or desire something for someone I wish them luck on their a religious building of East Asia and Southeast Asia, especially a multistory Buddhist tower with widely overhanging eaves separating each level, erected as a memorial or Her father goes to the pagoda early in the to take it easy; to release tension and anxiety; to loosen up; to become less She likes to take a bath to relax after a hard day at to allow yourself to do what you want, eat what you want, They indulged themselves by sleeping late, eating whatever they wanted and dancing until late at night. Home - 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Festivals – Free Lesson Topic “Festivals” often appears in Part 1. This is not a tough topic, but to be able to answer this part correctly, you need a good vocabulary and the ability to develop natural ideas. Festivals is a new topic of IELTS Speaking May to August 2021 Part 1, so it will continue to take the test in IELTS Speaking September to December 2021 Part 1. In this article, will share with you sample questions and answers topic Festivals to help you prepare for the IELTS Speaking Part 1. IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Festivals IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Festivals IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Festivals questions and answers 1. How do you celebrate festivals in your country? Answer I celebrate each festival by choosing to feel happy, light hearted, joyful, and reaching out to share these sentiments with my family members and friends. Give a reason for your answer I just want to get out and explore the festive spirit in the streets with my beloved people. For example, every year on the Tet holiday, my family go for a stroll through the neighborhood to see how people are celebrating, and every year, we end up drinking ourselves silly and having an amazing time – one that we never would’ve expected beforehand. 2. What special food and activities do you have for these festivals? 3. How do you celebrate Spring Festivals? 4. What is your favorite festival of the year? Answer I love Tet the most, because it is the biggest festival of the year with the whole country downing tools for family get-togethers. Because of the fact that Vietnamese families are so close-knit, the Tet Holiday is considered the best occasion for family members to return home and get together. 5. What is the most popular Vietnamese festival? Answer the Tet holiday, without a doubt.Give a reason for your answer Tet Nguyen Dan is the biggest and most important holiday in Vietnam to show respect and remembrance for ancestors. While there are some parallels between the Vietnamese celebrations of Tet and Chinese Lunar New Year, the Vietnamese version is unique and distinct in many facets. 6. Do you like Western festivals? Answer Yes, I quite enjoy them.Give a reason for your answer The Western festive atmosphere enables me to feel cozy and comfortable. There is also an increasing number of people joining the celebration. Personally, the pursuit of pleasure rooted in Western festivals is widely accepted by most people in my nation who intend to relax and escape their fast pace of living and relieve stress. 7. Where do people usually go during festival? Answer There are many places that people usually go to during festivals.Give a reason for your answer Public places would be many people’s favorite choice, and for some families, they want to go to places where the weather is neither too cold nor too hot, where the foliage of trees has turned yellow or red, which offer picturesque views. IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Festivals vocabulary VocabularyMeaningExampleclose-knit [adj]if a group of people are close-knit, they all help and support each otherHappiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit [n]something very similar to something else, or a similarity between two thingsI’m trying to see if there are any obvious parallels between the two [adj]comfortable and pleasant, especially of a building because of being small and warmThis room is nice and cozy in the [n]the act of trying to achieve a plan, activity, or situation, usually over a long period of timeThe company is ruthless in its pursuit of [n]the leaves of a plant or tree, or leaves on the stems or branches on which they are growingThe dense foliage overhead almost blocked out the Speaking Part 1 Topic Festivals vocabulary IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Festivals video sample answers Some IELTS Speaking part 1 topics you may like Update 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Special costumes – Free Lesson 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Holidays – Free Lesson 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Public gardens and parks – Free Lesson 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic TV program – Free Lesson 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Weather – Free Lesson 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Wallet – Free Lesson 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic environmental protection – Free Lesson 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic primary school – Free Lesson You can find out more information about IELTS Speaking Part 1 at the British Council website About The Author reading ielts always tries to share the best quality articles to help you in the IELTS preparation. Describe an important holiday that is celebrated in your country Describe an important holiday that is celebrated in your country Cue Card should say – when this celebration takes place – what people do during this celebration – what you especially like and dislike about this celebration – and explain why it is important. ANSWER Today, I am going to talk about an important holiday or festival that is celebrated in my country called Lunar New Year. Besides the Western calendar’s New Year , the Vietnamese people also celebrate Lunar New Year according to the lunar calendar. The Lunar New Year, or Tet usually takes place around the end of January or the beginning of February, depending on when the lunar calendar ends. Tet provides the opportunity for reunions for Vietnamese families, as people tend to return to their hometowns at this time of the year. Like the Christmas tree in Western countries, in Vietnam, we buy a kumquat tree, an apricot blossom tree or some branches to decorate our houses. People also buy new clothes and clean their houses to welcome in the New Year. Some families make “Chung cake”, a traditional cake for this special occasion. Chung cake is made of rice, mung beans and fat pork, wrapped in a banana leaf in the shape of a square. It is then boiled overnight until it is cooked. During the Tet holiday, Vietnamese visit their relatives to wish them all a happy new year. They also go to the pagodas frequently to wish for a better year to come for their families. Adults give lucky money to children. I think this is the only time of year when people can forget about all the worries of their daily lives, when they can relax, enjoy, indulge themselves, and get ready for another new year. VOCABULARY Western calendar also known as the Gregorian calendar, this calendar is used in Western countries and the New Year begins with the first day of January. Example International companies usually follow the Western calendar, though their country may also follow a different calendar. according to as stated or indicated by; following; based on. Example According to the Center for Disease Control, all travelers should be up-to-date with their vaccines. takes place around to occur during a certain time period, around is used in this instance to give you a general idea of when something happens, rather than a very specific date. Example The festival takes place around the beginning of May each year, though we won’t know the exact start date until March 15th. depending on to be contingent on, something will not happen unless something else happens first. Example Depending on the score you get on your exam, you may qualify for a scholarship. reunion a time when people gather together again after not having seen each other for a while; you can have family reunions, class reunions, work reunions, etc. Example The graduating class of 1985 had a class reunion this past summer and it was fantastic to see all my old classmates again. tend to used to describe when you usually do something. Example I tend to visit my mom on Sundays. hometown your hometown is the town where you spent most or all of your childhood; it is often the town where your parents still live. Example This will be the first time she has returned to her hometown after living abroad for five years. kumquat a small fruit-bearing tree with small, round, orange fruit that is commonly used in preservers and confections. Example My father brought home a kumquat tree for Tet. decorate to put things up around the home to make it look nice, to include things like flowers, artwork, lights, candles, and other types of decorations. Example My sister loves to decorate her room with posters of the One Direction boys. to welcome in the New Year used to express the idea that you are excited for a new year to begin, so you welcome it in or invite it in. In is used to express that it is as if you were welcoming a friend into your home or into your life. Example People in New York City are welcoming in the New Year with the dropping of the ball at Times Square. special occasion a special event or happening. Example A wedding is a special occasion that many people enjoy celebrating. boil the point when there are bubbles in the water that you are heating; water boils when it reaches 100 degrees Celsius. Example “A watched pot never boils.” – This is a saying that means that something we wait for with impatient attention seems to take forever. overnight Lasting for, extending over, or remaining during a night, until the morning time. Example She left the cat out overnight and luckily it didn’t get eaten by coyotes. to wish them to want or desire something for someone else. Example I wish them luck on their exams. pagoda a religious building of East Asia and Southeast Asia, especially a multistory Buddhist tower with widely overhanging eaves separating each level, erected as a memorial or shrine. Example Her father goes to the pagoda early in the morning. relax to take it easy; to release tension and anxiety; to loosen up; to become less tense. Example She likes to take a bath to relax after a hard day at work. indulge to allow yourself to do what you want, eat what you want, etc. Example They indulged themselves by sleeping late, eating whatever they wanted and dancing until late at night. IELTS speaking part 2 British Council MORE IELTS SPEAKING PART 2 SAMPLE

i think tet holiday is the most important celebration