Spring festivals have been distorted: Why?

From cultural integration and competition in the market economy to the commercialization of festivals and the way they are organized, festivals are becoming increasingly distorted.

In recent days, public opinion has been constantly debating the pig-slaughtering festival in Nem Thuong village (Bac Ninh), the chaotic scramble for offerings at the Giong Festival (Hanoi), and the frantic搶奪 (scrambling) to grab the "sacred mat," resulting in scratches and bruises on faces at the "Buddha casting" festival (Vinh Phuc), causing a distorted perception of spring festivals.

Offensive behavior at the festival needs to be criticized.

According to research by world cultural scholars, all festivals from ancient times to the present, from East to West, from Europe to Asia, originate from agriculture. Ancient people depended on the weather; favorable weather conditions led to bountiful harvests and a prosperous life. From this, the idea of ​​fertility and the hope for a bountiful harvest arose. The custom of slaughtering pigs at the beginning of spring in Nem Thuong village (Bac Ninh) is also inherited from these ideas of our ancestors.

Villagers in Ném Thượng (Bắc Ninh) perform the traditional ritual of slaughtering a pig in the middle of the communal courtyard (Photo: Lê Hiếu/Tri thức).

According to Professor Kieu Thu Hoach, former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Folk Culture and Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Folk Culture Research, all festivals today originate from national traditions and what our ancestors have left us. The festivals themselves have a positive aspect, even if their forms of expression may not conform to modern concepts.

However, acts of violence aimed at obtaining blessings at the Giong Festival or the "Phết" festival for good luck must be condemned. This is a violation of the festival's customs and has a negative impact if it spreads.

Professor Kieu Thu Hoach believes that the cause of this behavior is partly due to modern thinking and the market economy creating intense competition, which has infiltrated unhealthy ideas in rural areas: “One person inciting this can lead to a crowd inciting it. The act of snatching offerings is for good luck, but it shouldn't be as distorted and horrific as it is now. We need to strongly criticize this behavior and attitude. Researchers, managers, and the media should also contribute to reorienting thinking and finding better ways to manage festivals.”

"Brawl" erupts as people scramble for bamboo flowers at the Giong Festival (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

The distortion of the festival is inevitable.

Many festivals are being distorted, a fact that is easily recognizable, but changing and adjusting them to suit modern concepts and traditional values ​​is not easy at all. Professor Le Hong Ly, Director of the Institute of Cultural Studies - Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, even believes that negativity in festivals is unavoidable.

Due to rapid urban development, historical sites are increasingly shrinking, and their sacredness is diminishing. This leads to a reduction in the space available for festivals, diminishing some of their activities and significance. Gradually, people's understanding of the festivals becomes incomplete and easily influenced by external factors, especially in today's era of strong cultural integration.

The market economy is also a profound factor impacting festivals. Thanks to the market economy, many traditional festivals, historical sites, games, customs, and rituals have been restored. This attracts tourists, increases revenue, and drives up service costs. However, alongside this, negative aspects of commercialization, where money is prioritized over the need for cultural enjoyment, also emerge strongly and become more complex, such as outdated customs and superstitions.

Professor Le Hong Ly stated: “The market economy is strongly impacting traditional festivals and causing many changes. On the one hand, it adapts to modern life, but on the other hand, it leads to the loss of some traditional aspects that many of us may regret; however, this is unavoidable. Making money from culture while preserving cultural values ​​is not easy, but turning culture into merely a pretext for making money is something we must absolutely avoid, as that would be anti-cultural.”

The organization of the festival, as well as the management role of the authorities at all levels, is also worth mentioning. According to Professor Le Hong Ly, to effectively utilize the elements of folk festivals, while maintaining national identity and avoiding conflict between tradition and modernity, requires harmonious and close coordination between organizers, researchers, and artists. Clearly distinguishing between belief and superstition, the extent to which old rituals are restored, the time, space, ceremonies, and the issue of merit must all be considered.

Local management needs to be strict and coordinated to ensure that the space of the historical site is not affected, while also preserving the inherent beauty of the festival.

To eliminate negative images from spring festivals, the efforts of all levels of government are needed, along with increased public awareness. Traditional festivals not only possess spiritual significance but also play a crucial role in enriching and enlivening our country's cultural landscape.

According to VOV