The Tho ethnic people of Nghe An joyfully sing the "da oi" melody during Tet.
(Baonghean.vn) - Singing "Dạ ời" is a unique feature in the traditional New Year celebration customs of the Tho ethnic group's young men and women. This folk song is also the origin of many romantic relationships.
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| A scene of the Tho ethnic group singing love songs in Giai Xuan commune, Tan Ky district. Photo: Dao Tho |
To this day, he has more than 10 grandchildren, but Mr. Nguyen Van Thoai (born in 1963) still vividly remembers a memory from decades ago when he was young, traveling from Giai Xuan commune to Tan Xuan commune to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year). At the celebration, a young man of the Tho ethnic group met a young woman named Truong Thi Thanh (born in 1963). They sang folk songs together, and love blossomed like the changing leaves of a spring forest. A few months later, they became husband and wife.
That year, amidst the resounding gongs, Nguyen Van Thoai sang: "Greetings, my dear girl of Tan Xuan, spring has arrived, and I want to take you to Giai Xuan, to build a home and live together." After a moment of shyness and blushing, the girl Truong Thi Thanh replied: "Giai Xuan is beautiful, the people there are friendly, I also want to follow you, to build a happy home with you." The festivities lasted until noon, then the two went to the riverbank to talk. Their love blossomed there, and a few months later, the girl from Tan Xuan married and became a daughter-in-law in Giai Xuan.
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| The horn is a unique and indispensable musical instrument in the courtship rituals of the Tho ethnic community in Nghe An. Photo: Provided by Dao Tho. |
According to Mr. Thoai, "da oi" is a form of call-and-response singing among the Tho ethnic group, dating back a long time, accompanied by gongs and drums. Besides pre-existing songs, singers can improvise by adapting the lyrics to specific situations. "Da oi" singing is usually held during the Lunar New Year celebrations, when villages gather, and young men and women from all over come to join in the festivities. They exchange verses, and if they feel affection for each other, they will go to a secluded spot to talk. From these spring celebrations and "da oi" singing, many young men and women have met, shared their feelings, and eventually married.
| Clip: A performance of gong music and courtship songs by the Tho people. |
In Nghe An province, the Tho ethnic group mainly lives in Tan Ky, Quy Hop, Nghia Dan districts and Thai Hoa town. They are an ethnic community that has preserved many unique cultural characteristics, including the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration with solemn rituals and distinctive activities. And when talking about celebrating Tet and Spring for the Tho people, one immediately thinks of the "da oi" singing, or in other words, "da oi" singing is the "soul" of Spring.
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