2010-12-23, 03:19 AM
Khoi Wrote:Don't want this to be a story about my life, but I'll try to make this brief (though I doubt this'll work).
Back when I was a child, around this time of year, or maybe it was Jan-Feb, I only celebrated one major holiday: Tết. It's the Vietnamese New Year, but based on the Lunar calendar. When I was eight and immigrated to the United States, I didn't know what Christmas was, to be honest. My very first Christmas, I received a Batman action-figure from my aunt. From then on, I would always look towards to Christmas, not because I was expecting toys, but because it was different in America. It just seemed really different, because in Vietnam, during Tết, I would receive money in red-envelopes. Yes, the same ones that you guys get on MapleStory during the Lunar New Year's month.
When I moved from CA to PA, I lived with my aunt & uncle at their house for a couple years. It was fun, and I was always looking towards to Christmas. I loved the music, seeing Santa Clause at the mall or whatever. Similar to you, Sarah, watching "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" was literally a ritual. I hated the Grinch though, so could never watch that much. Watched it three times in my life, excluding the movie with Jim Carrey in it.
But anyways, as I grew up, that magic and expectation faded away. I was thinking more about managing money and giving gifts to friends. Recently, this year, I don't think I'm going to be expecting anything, nor will I give anything. I think Christmas should be a time for celebration and being with friends, families, loved-ones, etc. I don't care about receiving anything (besides figures omgwtp), and I won't be expecting anything. As long as I have a fun time drinking with some of my friends, I think it'll make my year. I don't get that excitement and joy out of Christmas anymore, I think Christmas is completely commercialized now, realizing as I grew up. People just spend money, and more money. That's all it is.
That's awesome! I wish I could experience a big change like that. My best friend from kindergarten to grade 9 was a Jehova Witness and I was always kind of in awe that he didn't celebrate any holidays or even his birthday. Since we grew up together he learned to accept what I'd give to him, be it a merry greeting, a card or a gift. I know his mom wasn't happy about it though.
Do you still celebrate Tet at all? Do your parents celebrate Christmas now? How was the transition? Also, about the red envelopes... how much money did they typically contain? And who gave it to you? Just random family members? That seems like such a strange custom! Were the envelopes labeled with names so you knew who it was from?