New Year's Eve in the middle of 'Covid-19 season' in Nghe An countryside
(Baonghean.vn) - It can be said that New Year's Eve of the Year of the Ox 2021 is quite special, when the Covid-19 epidemic situation is complicated, so most people stay at home to celebrate the sacred moment, not gathering in large numbers according to the direction of the Prime Minister and authorities at all levels.
Family atmosphere is warmer before the New Year
In recent years,New Year's Eve, Nghe An people tend to gather in public places to have fun and welcome the new year. City people often gather at fireworks displays to admire and walk around the streets to pick lucky branches. In the countryside, people, especially the young, often gather at the village cultural house to exchange arts, pick democratic flowers and light bonfires to celebrate the new year.
This year,Covid-19 epidemicThe outbreak occurred right at the time of preparing to enter the new year, the Prime Minister and leaders of all levels of government have issued documents directing to raise awareness of disease prevention and control, stop festival activities, and avoid large gatherings. Therefore, many people choose to stay home to reunite and enjoy with their families on New Year's Eve.
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| The joy of reuniting brothers and children of Mr. Bui Cong Hong's family, Quyet Thang hamlet, Tuong Son commune (Anh Son). Photo: Cong Khang |
In Tuong Son commune (Anh Son), usually on New Year's Eve, the cultural houses of the villages and hamlets are always bustling with cultural performances, people gather in large numbers to exchange and cheer. Young people often gather at intersections to light campfires to welcome New Year's Eve. But on this New Year's Eve, according to our observations, the villages were quiet, most people were at home.
Mr. Bui Cong Hong's house in Quyet Thang village was quite crowded, with brothers and children coming to join in the fun. Mr. Hong said: "I am the youngest child, living on the ancestral land, with the family temple in the grounds, so tonight the children of the whole extended family gathered to offer incense and chat about family and work. The atmosphere at the end of the year was really happy and cozy."
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| Mr. Bui Cong Hong, his son and grandchildren offer incense at the ancestral altar on New Year's Eve. Photo: Cong Khang |
Mr. Bui Cong Hoang - Mr. Hong's son, who works in Ho Chi Minh City, returned to his hometown to celebrate Tet. Every year, on New Year's Eve, he usually goes out with friends, participates in cultural exchanges, and lights a campfire. This New Year's Eve, Mr. Hoang decided to stay home to celebrate the new year with his parents and siblings in the extended family.
“Due to the complicated risk of the epidemic spreading, I did not go out with friends like in previous years. Staying at home and chatting with my uncles, aunts and brothers and sisters in the extended family also brought joy, sharing confidences, and a warmer, happier atmosphere. This can also be considered an interesting New Year's Eve.”
Like Mr. Hong's family, many families in Tuong Son commune gathered together, sometimes with children from 2-3 families belonging to a large family, to celebrate New Year's Eve together, looking forward to the sacred moment.
The bond of love is stronger in sacred moments
In many other rural areas, this year's New Year's Eve is an occasion for families to gather their children and grandchildren in joy.reunion. The family of Mr. Nguyen Van Cong in Sa Nam block, Nam Dan town (Nam Dan district) also gathered together, making honey cakes and sweet cakes to offer on New Year's Eve. By the fire, members of different generations laughed and talked together, making the family atmosphere more bustling and cozy.
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| Mrs. Pham Thi Tri, Hamlet 6, Tru Son Commune (Do Luong) happily enjoys her children and grandchildren before New Year's Eve. Photo: Nguyen Dao |
Mr. Nguyen Minh Hai (Mr. Cong's son) shared: "My family lives in Vinh city. On New Year's Eve in previous years, the whole family went to the Square to watch performances and fireworks. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, today the whole family returned to their hometown to reunite with their family and were welcomed with warm and sincere affection, feeling the love and strong emotional bond between generations and each member."
In particular, Mrs. Ngu Thi Du in Dong Thuong village, Thanh Linh commune (Thanh Chuong) turns 102 this year, has 8 children, 28 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. This year, on New Year's Eve, Mrs. Du's grandchildren and great-grandchildren took turns coming to wish her and her grandmother a happy birthday. Despite her advanced age, Mrs. Du is still lucid, seeing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered together happily, the elderly always have a smile on their faces.
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| The quiet scene on New Year's Eve in Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong). Photo: Dinh Tuan |
Normally, New Year's Eve in Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong) is very bustling, people from blocks and villages gather at the stadium and cultural house to dance Lam Vong together, drink Can wine to the bustling sound of gongs. Tonight is completely different, the streets are quiet, almost everyone stays home to welcome New Year's Eve.
Instead of going out to pick lucky branches, Kha Thi Minh Hai and her husband (Hoa Tay block) brought their children to their grandmother's house to join in the fun. Mrs. Vang Thi Phong (Ms. Hai's mother) was truly happy because her children and grandchildren showed her care and love on this special night. Holding her grandchildren in her arms, Mrs. Phong told about the customs and practices of welcoming the new year.Traditionalof the Thai people, then sing the Khap melody expressing the joy of old age.
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| On New Year's Eve, Mrs. Vang Thi Phong in Hoa Tay block, Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong) told her children and grandchildren about traditional New Year customs. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
“The happiest thing is to have my children and grandchildren gather together warmly in the sacred moment of welcoming the new year. It’s that simple, but for me it’s a great joy, nothing can compare.”
At the same time, according to our sources, in some villages, people contributed firewood to make campfires and gathered at one place to play gongs. However, the number of people gathered was not large, only 5-7 people, so it did not affect much the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic.
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| People in hamlet 6, Tru Son commune (Do Luong) lit a fire to celebrate New Year's Eve. Photo: Nguyen Dao |
Thus, the Covid-19 epidemic has affected thehappy spring, welcome Tetof the people, crowded activities and entertainment venues must be temporarily suspended. But in return, people have time to spend with their families, enjoy the joy of gathering, reunion and feel the warmth of family love in the sacred New Year's Eve moment.
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| People of Hoa Tay block, Thach Giam town (Tuong Duong) beat gongs to welcome the New Year of Tan Suu 2021. Photo: Dinh Tuan |
