Tet pole

The pole - a symbol of Vietnamese culture. Photo: Huy Thu

The custom is closely linked to other activities of Vietnamese people during Tet holidays to ward off evil spirits and pray for peace. In the days before Tet, people often perform rituals: sending the Kitchen God to Heaven, worshiping the Earth God, Han Khien... Planting and playing with peaches is the same, not only for beauty but also to ward off evil spirits. Because peach wood is used to ward off evil spirits, the image of Taoists and shamans is often associated with peaches.

From the 23rd of December, the Kitchen Gods, whose duty is to protect the house from evil spirits, no longer stay to protect the homeowner, so different activities are needed to ward off evil spirits. In legend, to avoid evil spirits from harming people, Buddha made a promise that wherever the human robe spreads, evil spirits must avoid that place, and the pole is the hanger that helps the shadow of the robe spread far and wide, thanks to which evil spirits must stay away from people.The flagpoleSo it also has the meaning of chasing away evil spirits, keeping people safe during the days when the Kitchen Gods go to heaven and evil spirits return to the human world.

Even the objects hung on the bamboo pole carry this meaning: amulets and banyan branches (or pandan leaves) to scare away demons in bamboo baskets, terracotta bells that make a sound when shaken by the wind to remind demons to stay away...

However, in addition to hanging lucky items, people can also hang decorative items such as lanterns, embroidery, clay bells, colorful streamers... combined with the outstanding height of the bamboo tree, making the tree become the most prominent and splendid image during Tet, worthy of being one of the symbols of Lunar New Year in Vietnamese culture.

In recent years, people have returned to the custom of erecting a pole on Tet holiday. Photo: Huy Thu

So what is the pole? Where did it originate? Why does it carry the meaning of warding off evil spirits and wishing for good luck? We can find the answer in the story "The Origin of the Tet Pole" according to Nguyen Dong Chi in the Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales:

"In the past, demons occupied all the land, while people only worked for hire and gave most of the harvested rice to the demons. The demons exploited people more and more, and finally, they allowed themselves the right to "eat the top and leave the roots". People were only allowed to enjoy the straw, and had no way to make a living, so they asked the Buddha for help. The Buddha told people not to grow rice but to grow sweet potatoes. That harvest season, people enjoyed countless sweet potatoes, while the demons only enjoyed the leaves and vines of sweet potatoes, following the method of "eating the top and leave the roots".

In the next season, the demons switched to the method of "eating the roots and leaving the tops". Buddha told the man to switch to growing rice. As a result, the demons failed to eat. The demons were so angry that the next season they declared "eating both the roots and the tops". Buddha gave the man corn seeds to sow everywhere. The demons got nothing, but the man harvested a lot of corn. In the end, the demons insisted that the man return all the land and not let him cultivate it further.

Buddha discussed with the man, asking for a piece of land equal to the shadow of the robe hanging on the top of a bamboo tree. The demon saw that there would be no loss so he agreed. Then Buddha used magic to make the shadow of the robe cover the entire land, causing the demon to lose its land and run to the East Sea.

Due to losing their land, the demons mobilized troops to take it back. In this battle, the demons lost after being attacked by the humans with dog blood, pandan leaves, garlic, lime powder, etc. and the demons were exiled to the sea by Buddha. Before leaving, the demons asked Buddha for mercy and allowed them to visit the graves of their ancestors a few days a year on the mainland. Buddha felt sorry for them and promised to let them.

Therefore, every year, on the occasion of Lunar New Year, the days when demons visit the mainland, peopleaccording to the old custom of planting the poleto keep the demons from coming near the place where people live. On the pole, there is a clay bell that makes a sound when shaken by the wind to remind the demons to stay away. On the top of the pole, there is also a bundle of pandan leaves or a branch of a banyan tree tied to scare the demons.

In addition, people also draw arrows pointing to the East and sprinkle lime powder on the ground in front of the door during Tet to keep out evil spirits.

People of Cua Rao village, Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong) set up a pole to celebrate Tet. Photo: Dinh Tuan

In modern times, especially the subsidy and renovation period, due to economic difficulties as well as the country having just gone through fierce wars for national defense, traditional activities and rituals have faded away, and the custom of planting the pole has gradually disappeared. There was a period of several decades when the pole was almost nowhere to be seen in our country during Tet, and the reminder of this custom has gradually become a thing of the past.

Fortunately, along with the country's development, and the activities of cultural restoration, honoring the beauty of the ancient national traditions of people who passionately love the nation's traditions,custom of planting the flagpolehas also been gradually restored. In particular, during the recent Lunar New Year of the Rat, this custom has truly become a widespread movement. Like many people, I was particularly impressed because throughout a large area of ​​my beloved homeland Nghe An, everywhere the image of poles with flags, lanterns, and electric lights were soaring high, intricately strung up, still imbued with the ancient spirit!

Seeing the scene of people enthusiastically restoring the ancient beauty that they thought had been lost for a long time, I was filled with intense emotions, boundless emotion, because I knew that the beauty of my ancestors would always remain, my homeland has never been so beautiful.

Lanterns attached to Tet poles in Kim Son town, Que Phong district. Photo: Quang An