Discover 7 new national intangible cultural heritages

(Baonghean.vn) - On September 11, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a Decision to announce 7 new national intangible cultural heritages according to the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage. We would like to introduce to our readers the 7 heritages above.

1. Water-splashing Festival (Bun huot nam) of Lao people (Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien district, Dien Bien province):This is the main New Year of the Lao people. The water festival takes place over many days with activities of religious and spiritual significance such as worshiping the village, worshiping ancestors... but the core issue is praying for favorable weather with the main activity of "splashing water". Splashing water means to wash away the bad luck of the old year. People splash water on each other with the hope that the coming year will bring good things. In the photo: Together visiting each house to wish each other a happy new year and asking for water for luck. Photo source dantocmiennui.vn

The main purpose of water splashing is to wish to see off the dry season and pray for the rainy season to return so that people can start a new crop. The festival part of the Water Splashing Festival includes folk games imbued with the identity of the Lao people such as: Tau phac sa - tau lasa (turtle incubating eggs), Xua khop mu (tiger pouncing on pig), Ngu kin khiet (snake catching the shoot), Phan vieng (leg-catching dance), Pit mac tanh (picking ripe melons)... In the photo: The rain praying ceremony is held on the bank of the stream. Photo source baotainguyenmoitruong.vn

2. The art of creating patterns on traditional costumes of the Flower Mong people (Sa Long commune, Muong Cha district, Dien Bien province):The technique of drawing patterns with beeswax weaving and embroidering patterns on traditional costumes has been preserved - a unique folk art form in creating patterns and color combinations on fabric products to create beautiful, unique, delicate, and elegant costumes that are distinct to Mong women. These products include: dresses, belts, head scarves, leggings... In the photo: The art of creating patterns on traditional costumes of the Mong Hoa people, in Sa Long commune, Muong Cha district. Photo: dienbientv.vn

The technique of using beeswax to create patterns on fabric of the Flower Mong people reflects the personality and aspirations of people throughout the history of development. The Flower Mong people believe that patterns on costumes and household items will help them communicate with the gods, inviting them to their homes to give them good luck and ward off evil. Each pattern represents the noble aspirations of people. It is a valuable folk knowledge reflecting the economic, cultural, social, historical level, the mark of the times, and the cultural identity of the Flower Mong artisans. In the photo: H'Mong students in traditional costumes at the Dien Bien Province Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities. Photo source dienbientv.vn

3. Vinh Khe Village Wrestling Festival (An Dong Commune, An Duong District, Hai Phong City):It is held on the 7th day of the first lunar month every year at the village communal house to commemorate the merits of the village's tutelary deities, Trung Thanh Dai Vuong Vu Viet Giao, Hung Vu Dai Vuong Vu Viet Sao and Dai Vuong Tu Duong Hau Pham Tu Nghi. At the festival, right after the traditional rituals according to the village's customs, two elders in the village, dressed in neat clothes, will perform a symbolic exchange ceremony and wrestle in front of the altar, followed by a competition between wrestlers on a stage set up in the communal house yard. Photo source vietnamtourism.com

The unique feature of the traditional wrestling festival of Vinh Khe village lies in the competition format. The competition format of the wrestling festival does not follow any existing standards but follows the village rules: wrestlers compete with each other regardless of age, weight class and competition time. Wrestlers compete in 3 rounds with each round lasting 3 minutes to determine the winner, however, in case the end of 3 rounds still does not determine the winner, the wrestlers will move on to the extra round without counting time. The person is considered the absolute winner when he or she defeats the opponent in a position where both shoulders and one buttock touch the mat at the same time for 3 seconds. Photo source: internet

4.Xang Khan Festival (also known as Kin gong booc may, depending on the characteristics of each region) of the Thai people in Nghe An province(including the districts: Que Phong, Quy Chau, Quy Hop, Tuong Duong, Ky Son, Con Cuong, Nghia Dan). According to the elders in Western Nghe An, the Xang Khan festival has existed since the time when "the ground was like a banyan leaf, the sky was like a snail's lid, the mountains and forests were like chicken footprints", Xang Khan was organized by shamans. Each shaman learned from a different teacher; each village, each region has different economic and living conditions, so the way the Xang Khan festival is organized in each place is also different. In the photo: The shaman performs a ceremony to pray for a new year of prosperity and solidarity for the villagers. Photo courtesy

The Xang Khan Festival is a happy day for the Muong in general and the shamans' families in particular. The festival is for people throughout the village to pay their gratitude to the shaman who cured their families' illnesses. This is also a day for young couples to meet, some of whom have become husband and wife through this festival. After the ceremony, the shamans and the villagers dance around the flower tree (with Booc May). The festival becomes more and more bustling as it gets later in the evening with interesting performances by the shamans as well as everyone attending the Xang Khan festival. In the photo: People happily dance and jump on bamboo poles during the Xang Khan Festival. Photo courtesy

5. Long Khe Temple Festival (An Khe Commune, Quynh Phu District, Thai Binh Province):Long Khe Temple Festival is held from March 22 to 25 (lunar calendar). In addition to the ritual activities and water procession, there are also many folk performances such as: human chess, four-spirit dance, word pulling, dum singing, bat dat dance... In which, the most special is the torch procession and the burning of Dinh Lieu tree. In the photo: The ritual of taking sacred fire in Long Khe Temple. Photo source: Thai Binh Newspaper

The Dinh Lieu tree was erected and handcrafted by the villagers from dozens of dry bamboo trees, about 16m high and 1.4m wide. At night, along with fireworks, the Dinh Lieu tree became a giant torch that lit up the whole area amid the cheers of the people. While the Dinh Lieu tree burned, the old ladies chanted Buddha's name, praying for all the best and happiest things to come to the Long Khe villagers. In the photo: Lighting the Dinh Lieu tree at the Long Khe Temple festival. Photo source: Thai Binh Newspaper

6. Cau Ngu Festival (Ngu Loc commune, Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province):According to the elders in the village, the fishing festival in the old Diem Pho and now Ngu Loc areas appeared since the Le Dynasty, and over the centuries has been preserved and promoted. This is the biggest festival of the year in the commune, and at the same time, it is also the biggest and most typical festival in the coastal area of ​​Thanh. The fishing festival is held regularly every year from the 21st to the 24th of the second lunar month, with the participation of all the people of Ngu Loc commune. Photo source baothanhhoa.vn

The fishing festival is a form of cultural and religious activity with a tight community character, the customs and conventions in the festival are strictly regulated. This is a festival that is assessed to have a large scale and influence not only in Hau Loc but also affects fishermen in Hoang Hoa and Nga Son districts, clearly shown in the solemn and solemn rituals and ceremonies and meaningful games associated with the customs and practices of fishermen who take fishing as their main source of livelihood. In addition to its historical significance, the festival also contains profound cultural and social content. This is also an opportunity to promote the spirit of the village and connect the community. Photo source baothanhhoa.vn

7. Ngu tro Vien Khe (Dong Anh folk songs) (Dong Anh commune, Dong Son district, Thanh Hoa province):It is a system of performances accompanied by folk songs, mainly circulated in Vien Khe village, Dong Anh commune, Dong Son district, Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Dong Anh performances are classified as typical folk performances of Thanh land, along with the Ma River Ho suite and Xuan Pha play[1][2]. Dong Anh performances reflect the daily life and feelings of Vietnamese farmers in the past. Lyrics such as: Going to the pagoda to break a lotus branch/ Eating rice by lamp, planting rice under the moonlight... have become familiar to many Vietnamese people. In the photo: Dong Anh Lamp Dance Suite is an extremely unique form of folk performance in Thanh Hoa. Photo source vanhoadoisong.vn

According to Thanh Hoa scholar Phan Bao, the history of the five-nation play (including five plays: Champa, Hoa Lang, Luc Hon Nhung, Ngo Quoc, and Ai Lao) may be the ceremonial music of the Later Le Dynasty, passed down by mandarins Trinh Quy Thuat and Nguyen Mong Tuan to Xuan Pha village (Trinh Quy Thuat's hometown) and Vien Khe village (Nguyen Mong Tuan's hometown). The five plays mentioned above are also all the plays of Xuan Pha, while Ai Lao has not been seen in the Dong Anh play system. On the other hand, the number of plays in Dong Anh does not stop at five as the name of the five plays suggests, more plays may have been formed during the festival and history. In the photo: Hoa Lang dance in Xuan Pha play. Photo source thanhhoa24h.com

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