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 "water throwing". Water throwing has the meaning of washing away bad luck in the old year. People splash water on each other with the hope that the coming year will bring good things. In the photo: Together going to 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 a pig), Ngu kin khiet (snake catching a branch), Phan vieng (leg-catching dance), Pit mac tanh (picking ripe melons)... In the photo: The rain-praying ceremony is performed on the stream bank. Photo source baotainguyenmoitruong.vn

2. The art of creating patterns on traditional costumes of the Mong Hoa people (Sa Long commune, Muong Cha district, Dien Bien province):The technique of drawing patterns using beeswax to weave and embroider 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 distinctive of 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 that reflects 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 ceremony of exchanging messages and symbolically wrestling in front of the altar, followed by the competition between wrestlers on the stands 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 within 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 family's illness. 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 villagers dance around the flower tree (with Booc May). The festival becomes more bustling as the night goes by 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 22-25 (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... Among them, 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 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 illuminating the whole area amid the cheers of the people. While the Dinh Lieu tree burned, the old ladies chanted Buddha's name, wishing all the best and happiness 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 living. In addition to 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. Vien Khe Five Troupe (Dong Anh Folk Song) (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 performance forms of Thanh land, along with the Ho Song Ma suite and Xuan Pha play[1][2]. Dong Anh performances reflect the daily life and feelings of ancient Vietnamese farmers. Lyrics such as: Going to the pagoda to pick a lotus branch/ Eating rice by lamplight, 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 homeland. Photo source vanhoadoisong.vn

According to Thanh Hoa scholar Phan Bao, the history of the five-nation play (including five plays: Champa play, Hoa Lang play, Luc Hon Nhung play, Ngo Quoc play, and Ai Lao play) 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 play, while Ai Lao play has not been found 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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