Listing the Spring Festivals of the Year of the Snake in Nghe An
Nghe An has a rich system of cultural and historical relics. The following are some of the Spring Festivals in Nghe An during the Year of the Snake (2015).
King Mai Temple Festival
Time: February 10-12, 2025 (corresponding to the 13th to 15th day of the first lunar month). Location: King Mai's mausoleum complex, King Mai's temple - Nam Dan town; King Mai's mother's tomb - Nghia Thai commune and related historical sites in Nam Dan district.
To commemorate and express gratitude for the merits of King Mai Hac De, Mai Thieu De, and their generals, the government and people of Nam Dan district solemnly organize a festival at the King Mai Temple historical site every year.
This year, the festival includes many exciting activities that reflect the nation's fine traditions and spirit of chivalry and solidarity, such as boat racing, wrestling, card games, folk games, and volleyball matches…
Ca Temple Festival
Time: February 11th to 13th, 2025 (corresponding to the 14th to 16th days of the first lunar month). Location: Ca Temple, Hoa Thanh town, Yen Thanh district.
The Ca Temple is an ancient architectural structure built during the Le Dynasty. The temple is not only beautiful but also renowned for its sacredness, dedicated to deities who contributed to the nation's protection and welfare, such as Cao Son – Cao Cac, Uy Minh Vuong Ly Nhat Quang, and Bach Y Princess; it also houses the ancestral deities of major clans in the region.
The ceremony includes: the opening ceremony, the announcement ceremony; the procession; the rally; and the grand sacrifice ceremony: the incense offering and thanksgiving ceremony are held solemnly in accordance with the local traditions.
The festival included activities such as: men's and women's stick-pushing competitions; women's volleyball tournament; drum-playing exchange between clans in the district; men's and women's tug-of-war competitions; chess and card game competitions; and cultural performances between villages... attracting enthusiastic participation from people of all ages.
Cờn Temple Festival
Time: February 16th to 18th, 2025 (corresponding to the 19th to 21st day of the first lunar month). Location: Cờn Temple, Quỳnh Phương Ward, Hoàng Mai Town.
The Cờn Temple Festival is one of the traditional festivals recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The festival, deeply rooted in the coastal region's identity, is held annually to commemorate the Four Holy Mothers – goddesses who protect and bless the people, ensuring their prosperity and helping them overcome dangers.
This year's Cờn Temple Festival features many unique activities in both the ceremonial and festive parts, including the opening ceremony, the announcement ceremony, the festival opening ceremony, the fishing prayer ceremony, the joint sacrifice ceremony, the ancestral worship ceremony, the grand sacrifice ceremony, and the thanksgiving ceremony; a competition for singing birds, a cultural performance program, competitions in sports such as boat racing, stick pushing, volleyball, tug-of-war, and traditional local folk games…
Quả Sơn Temple Festival
Time: February 16-17, 2025 (corresponding to the 19th and 20th days of the first lunar month). Location: Quả Sơn Temple, Bồi Sơn Commune, Đô Lương District.
Quả Sơn Temple is one of the four most sacred temples in Nghe An province, known as "first Cờn, second Quả, third Bạch Mã, fourth Chiêu Trưng". The temple is dedicated to Uy Minh Vương Lý Nhật Quang, a district governor who made significant contributions to building his homeland in Nghe An and expanding and protecting the nation's borders.
A highlight of the temple festival is the thanksgiving procession to the Goddess of Mercy at the Goddess of Mercy Temple, also known as Tien Tich Temple, located 4 km west of the temple in Bach Ngoc commune. Legend says that the Goddess of Mercy frequently provided divine assistance to Ly Nhat Quang in his affairs of state and guided him to the place of enlightenment and sainthood at the foot of Mount Qua.
Van Temple - Cua Rao Festival
Time: February 17-19, 2025 (corresponding to the 20th to 22nd day of the first lunar month). Location: Van Temple, Cua Rao 2 village, Xa Luong commune, Tuong Tuong district.
The Van - Cua Rao Temple is located in Xa Luong commune, at the confluence of the Nam Non and Nam Mo rivers. This sacred temple is associated with the career and merits of Doan Nhu Hai (during the Tran dynasty) - a military commander who sacrificed his life on this land to protect the country, its borders, and the lives of its people.
The festival is an occasion to commemorate the merits of the deities worshipped at the temple and to pray for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, abundant harvests, peaceful villages, and well-being for all people. In the festival section, various sports and folk games take place with great enthusiasm and excitement.
Hang Bua Festival
Time: February 17-19, 2025 (corresponding to the 20th to 22nd day of the first lunar month). Location: Chieng Ngam Temple and Bua Cave, Bua Village, Chau Tien Commune, Quy Chau District.
The Hang Bua Festival is a traditional festival of the ethnic minorities in Quy Chau district in particular and the Northwest region of Nghe An province in general, aiming to commemorate the contributions of those who pioneered and established the villages. The ceremonial part is held at Chieng Ngam Temple and the festival part is held at Bua Cave, in Bua village, Chau Tien commune.
The Hang Bua Festival is organized according to the customs of the Thai ethnic group, always ensuring solemnity, safety, and economy, attracting a large number of people from all walks of life and tourists from all over to participate.
Pu Nha Thau Festival
Time: February 21-22, 2025 (corresponding to the 24th and 25th days of the first lunar month). Location: Pu Nha Thau Temple, Na Luong village, Huu Kiem commune, Ky Son district.
Pu Nha Thau Temple is associated with legends and folk tales passed down through generations, and is a place of worship for General Doan Nhu Hai, Mau Thuong Ngan, and other deities who contributed to protecting the nation and its people...
Besides the solemn traditional ceremonies, including the announcement ceremony, procession, and grand sacrifice, the festival also features cultural and artistic exchanges, traditional costume performances, rice wine drinking, Lam Vong dance, and attractive folk games such as tug-of-war, crossbow shooting, throwing the ball, Tò Mạc Lẹ, stick pushing, etc.
Nguyen Xi Temple Festival
Time: February 26-28, 2025 (corresponding to January 29 to February 1 in the Lunar calendar). Location: Nguyen Xi Temple, Khanh Hop commune, Nghi Loc district.
The Nguyen Xi Temple Festival is an occasion for the people and descendants of the Nguyen Dinh family to express their respect and remembrance of the outstanding national hero, contributing to the education of patriotism and national pride for future generations, and also contributing to the preservation and promotion of national cultural values.
The ceremonial part is organized solemnly and seriously, reflecting the rich cultural identity of the homeland and nation, including: the opening ceremony, the announcement ceremony, the incense offering ceremony, the sacrificial ceremony, the grand sacrificial ceremony, and the thanksgiving ceremony. The festive part includes cultural and artistic activities, sports, folk games, etc.
Duc Hoang Temple Festival
Time: February 25-28, 2025 (corresponding to January 28 to February 1 in the Lunar calendar). Location: Duc Hoang Temple, Phuc Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District.
The Duc Hoang Temple, a national historical and cultural relic, is a place of worship dedicated to Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon, a general skilled in swimming and martial arts who made significant contributions to the resistance against the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.
This year, the ceremonial part was held solemnly with activities according to local customs and traditions. The festival part included many rich activities such as: men's and women's volleyball competitions; boat racing; human chess competition; folk art performances; traditional and modern games…
Thanh Liet Temple Festival
Time: March 4-5, 2025 (corresponding to the 5th and 6th days of the 2nd lunar month). Location: Thanh Liet Temple, Xuan Lam commune, Hung Nguyen district.
Located on the banks of the Lam River, Thanh Liet Temple was built during the late Le Dynasty to worship deities who contributed to protecting the nation and its people, especially those associated with the riverine region: Long Vuong (Dragon King), Ha Ba (River God), Sat Hai Dai Vuong (Great King of the Sea), Hoang Ta Thon, Nguyen Bieu, Son Lieu Doc Cuoc, etc.
The Thanh Liet Temple Festival is a traditional folk cultural event deeply rooted in the culture of the fishermen in the lower reaches of the Lam River. A distinctive feature of the festival is the procession of the deity and the prayer for a good fishing season on the river. The festival has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Vạc Village Festival
Time: March 6-8, 2025 (corresponding to the 7th to 9th day of the 2nd lunar month). Location: Vac Village Archaeological Site, Long Son Ward, Thai Hoa Town.
The Lang Vac Festival is an opportunity for people from local communities to return to their roots; it also demonstrates community solidarity, educates awareness of protecting and preserving historical relics, and conserves and promotes traditional cultural and historical values.
This year's Lang Vac Festival will be organized in a solemn and meaningful manner, befitting the cultural and historical value of the Lang Vac archaeological site, truly a cultural activity deeply rooted in the beliefs and spirituality of the ethnic groups in western Nghe An province.
Bach Ma Temple Festival
Time: March 7th - 9th, 2025 (corresponding to the 8th to 10th day of the 2nd lunar month). Location: Bach Ma Temple, Kim Bang commune, Thanh Chuong district.
The Bach Ma Temple Festival is held to commemorate and express gratitude for the merits of General Phan Da, a general who made great contributions to the Lam Son army in the resistance war against the Ming invaders.
The ceremonial part was solemn, while the festive part featured lively cultural and sporting activities, attracting a large number of locals and tourists, including men's volleyball competitions and traditional folk games such as wrestling, pot smashing, chess, and tug-of-war.
Choong Temple Festival
Time: March 10-11, 2025 (corresponding to February 11-12 in the Lunar calendar). Location: Choọng Bùng Village, Châu Lý Commune, Quỳ Hợp District.
The Choọng Temple Festival is an occasion for the Thai ethnic people in the Northwest region of Nghe An to remember their origins and commemorate the contributions of a woman named Nang Phom Hom (meaning "Fragrant-haired girl" in Thai) - who played a major role in helping the Lam Son army drive out the Ming invaders in the 15th century.
Besides the ceremonial part, which includes the announcement ceremony, the buffalo offering ceremony, the procession of the sacred palanquin, the grand sacrifice ceremony, and the thanksgiving ceremony, the festival part features a cultural exchange program with traditional folk songs and dances, reflecting the unique cultural identity of the Thai, Tho, and other ethnic groups.
Cuong Temple Festival
Location: Cuong Temple, Dien An Commune, Dien Chau District. Time: March 13-14, 2025 (corresponding to the 14th to 15th day of the 2nd lunar month).
Located on Mo Da Mountain, Cuong Temple is dedicated to Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong, who succeeded King Hung and led the Lac Viet people in fighting against the Qin and Zhao dynasties in the 3rd century BC. The temple also houses shrines to other deities who contributed to protecting the nation and its people.
A highlight of the festival is the procession of the palanquins of Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong and Princess My Chau. In addition, there are activities such as camping, volleyball tournaments, traditional folk singing performances, and displays of local OCOP products.
Nine-Chamber Temple Festival
Time: March 13-14, 2025 (corresponding to the 14th and 15th days of the 2nd lunar month). Location: Nine-Room Temple, Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district.
The Nine-Compartment Temple is a place of worship dedicated to Then Pha (heaven), Nang Xi Da (daughter of heaven), and Tao Lo Y - considered the pioneer in establishing the village and settling the land according to the beliefs of the Thai people. The Nine-Compartment Temple Festival has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Nine-Compartment Temple Festival features many activities that reflect the unique cultural identity of the highland people, such as buffalo sacrifice ceremonies, processions, cultural exchanges, and folk games.
Rú Gám Temple Festival
Time: March 12-14, 2025 (corresponding to the 13th to 15th day of the 2nd lunar month). Location: Ru Gam Temple, Xuan Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district.
The Gam Temple and Pagoda are located within the same complex, forming an ancient and sacred historical site with beautiful and unique architecture, featuring exquisite carvings that showcase skill and sophistication.
The festival features many unique activities: the opening ceremony, the announcement ceremony, the procession of the deity, the grand sacrifice ceremony, the thanksgiving ceremony, the prayer for peace ceremony, the opening ceremony, folk games (men's and women's stick pushing, blindfolded pot smashing, blindfolded duck catching...), volleyball competitions, traditional martial arts...
