Warm longevity celebration during the epidemic season in Nghe An

Reduce the scale, organize only at home

Beginning of the yearYear of the OxIn 2021, the Covid-19 epidemic is still complicated, the Prime Minister and leaders at all levels of government have issued documents directing the suspension of festival activities and limiting large gatherings to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Therefore, the scale and rituals of longevity celebrations have also been adjusted by localities and families in Nghe An to ensure reasonableness, both maintaining traditional cultural beauty and limiting the outbreak of the epidemic.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh in Hamlet 6, Tru Son Commune (Do Luong) turns 90 this year. A few weeks before the Lunar New Year, her children and grandchildren discussed and agreed on a plan to celebrate her longevity. It is expected that Mrs. Thanh's longevity celebration will be attended by all her children, grandchildren, relatives, and close neighbors, because this is a happy occasion for the family. Moreover, in the village, there are not many people who reach their 90th birthday.

Family members held a longevity celebration for Nguyen Thi Thanh, hamlet 6, Tru Son commune (Do Luong). Photo: Nguyen Dao

However, on the eve of Tet,Covid-19 epidemicWith the outbreak in Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Binh Duong and several other provinces and cities, the family decided to reduce the scale of the longevity celebration to the family. Mr. Thanh said: "Hearing the news of the dangerous epidemic, the government advised against large gatherings, I told my children to organize the longevity celebration without inviting everyone. It will be limited to the family, relatives and neighbors will invite on another occasion, because safety must always be taken seriously."

The birthday celebration of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh was held at home by her children and grandchildren. It was not as crowded as originally planned, but it was no less joyful and exciting. Her children and grandchildren were happy to have the opportunity to express their love and respect for their parents' efforts in giving birth to her and raising her. Mrs. Thanh was also very happy to be cared for by her children and grandchildren in her old age.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hong and his wife decided to postpone the birthday celebration, but their children and grandchildren still held a small party to celebrate. Photo: GDCC

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hong in Khanh Trung hamlet, Khanh Hop commune (Nghi Loc) is turning 100 years old this year, Mrs. Vu Thi Thuc is 90 years old, the family also planned to organize a longevity celebration before Tet. It is expected that the ceremony will be attended by many children, siblings, relatives and friends of the children and grandchildren. In particular, many of the children and grandchildren of the two elderly people are successful and live far away and want to return home to join in the celebration.extended family

Suddenly, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, Mr. Hong decided to temporarily suspend the birthday celebration and advised his children and grandchildren living far away not to return home to celebrate Tet. “As a retired army colonel, still clear-headed enough to grasp the current situation, I saw that the epidemic was spreading dangerously. Organizing a birthday celebration at this time could inadvertently increase the risk of spreading, so I discussed with my children to temporarily suspend it, waiting for the epidemic to be controlled before organizing it again,” Mr. Nguyen Manh Hong confided.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huy (Mr. Hong's son), the children and grandchildren in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City could not return, so the children and grandchildren in the family still held a small party to express their love for their parents and grandparents. Waiting for a suitable occasion, the extended family will reunite in a ceremony to celebrate their parents' longevity.

Come to home to deliver gifts and certificates

In Dong Co village, Thanh Linh commune (Thanh Chuong), Mrs. Phan Thi Quy turns 105 this year. Initially, her children and grandchildren planned to hold a big birthday celebration, because Mrs. Quy is the oldest person in the commune at present. However, due to the complicated developments of the epidemic, the family only held the celebration internally, without inviting guests as originally planned.

The 105th birthday celebration for Phan Thi Quy was held only for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the family. Photo: GĐCC

Mr. Dinh Van Quy (Mr. Quy's eldest son) said: "It's a pity not to be able to celebrate my mother's longevity on a large scale, but for peace and safety, to limit the risk of spreadingpandemicSo we must consciously comply. What is most necessary and important is still safety and love, respect and harmony in the family.

According to our records, most localities across the province do not organize longevity celebrations at the hamlet and commune levels like in previous years to limit the risk of disease outbreaks. The awarding of certificates and greeting cards is done by officers of the Elderly Association at the commune, hamlet level and the Hamlet Management Board to deliver them to the homes.

The Nghi Phu Commune Elderly Association (Vinh City) and representatives of Hamlet 17 Nghi Phu came to present a birthday gift to Mrs. Bui Thi Chau (96 years old). This year, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the commune will not organize the event at the cultural house as usual, but will go to each house to give gifts to the elderly. Photo: TT

The longevity celebration in Hamlet 6, Tru Son Commune (Do Luong) was shortened in scale and time to limit the spread of Covid-19. Photo: Nguyen Dao

Thus, the Covid-19 epidemic has greatly affected daily life and festival activities at the beginning of the year, including longevity celebrations. The good news is that Nghe An people have always been aware of disease prevention and control, temporarily stopping or adjusting the scale and methods to make longevity celebrations both meaningful and limit the spread of Covid-19./.