There was a girl named My. She was from Vietnam, but she lived far away in America because of her college. One night, My sat at her desk studying. Outside, the air felt quiet. She looked at the calendar and whispered, "Lunar New Year is coming soon." My felt a little sad. She missed her family very much.

My closed her eyes and sighed. "I wish I could be home for Tet," she said.

"I wish there was a fairy who could help me." Suddenly, a tiny light filled the room. A fairy appeared with shiny wings and a warm smile.

"I can grant you one wish," the fairy said.

My smiled and said, "I wish I could celebrate Lunar New Year with my family."

Whoosh! My felt the wind rush past her. Her family was there, smiling and calling her name. "It's Tet!" her family said. My's heart felt full and happy. She was finally home.

At home, My thought about what Tet meant. Lunar New Year is the start of a brand-new year, a time filled with family, love, and new beginnings. She remembered that her friends from countries like China, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Korea, and Taiwan also celebrate Lunar New Year in their own special ways. But in Vietnam, she smiled and said, “We call it Tet.”

She saw a horse statue in the front yard and asked her father, “Dad, why do we have a horse here? I want a cat. I like cats.”

Her dad smiled and explained, “My daughter, this year is the Year of the Horse. Your mom and I put it here to welcome you home. The Horse is strong and brave. It always moves forward and never gives up—just like you. You keep moving forward and exploring the world on your own. Your mom and I are so proud of you.”

Now My understood what her dad meant. She remembered how her mom used to tell her these stories when she was a little girl. Their family followed special traditions and little superstitions to welcome good luck in the new year. My smiled and nodded her head. In her heart, she wished for the new year to begin with happiness. 

During these days before Lunar New Year, the kitchen smelled warm and delicious. My helped make lots of traditional food, especially Chung cake with her family. It was square cake made with rice, mung beans, and meat. It reminded My to be thankful for the earth and her ancestors. When they ate together, My felt love in every bite.

On New Year's Eve, the house was very clean, the bad luck from the old year had been swept away. Fireworks lit up the sky as My watched them with her brother, but she couldn’t find her dad. When she saw him walking back into the living room, she asked, "Where were you dad?" Her mom came behind her and said, "Your dad just did something special for our family. We called it xong dat. It means the first person stepped into the house brings good luck and joy for the whole year."