Family Clan Festival at the Beginning of Spring
(Baonghean.vn)ButEvery year, in early January, many people who have left their hometowns return to their birthplace to participate in the clan festival. For the elders, returning to their clan in the early spring is always a sacred and eagerly anticipated event.
In the process of national renewal, culture is considered the spiritual foundation, the goal, and the driving force of social development. Village culture originates from the culture of clans. Clans are the glue that binds the family with the village, and the village with the nation. The role of clans is very important in implementing Central Resolution 5 on promoting advanced Vietnamese culture with a strong national identity. Wherever the strength of clans is harnessed, it significantly contributes to improving the material and spiritual well-being of the people, creating conditions for promoting national unity, and building cultural life at the grassroots level. The Clan Festival at the beginning of Spring is a celebration of the cultural characteristics of each clan.
In Quynh Luu district (Nghe An province), clans have been upholding revolutionary traditions and a love of learning. Unity within the clan and with other clans in the community is a crucial issue that every clan needs to focus on. Each large clan has a leadership committee, and under this committee are subcommittees or groups that monitor clan activities such as construction, rituals, and promoting education.
For example, consider the Ho clan. During the clan festival in 1999, the entire Ho clan unanimously agreed to build a memorial stele for their ancestor, the First-Rank Scholar Ho Hung Dat, in the land where he founded the clan: Bao Dot - Quynh Lam (now Ngoc Son commune, Quynh Luu district). With much intelligence, effort, and money, along with the enthusiasm of the descendants, the project was inaugurated in early spring of the Year of the Dog (2006).
Over 600 years ago, King Ho Han Thuong, following the orders of his father, King Ho Quy Ly, built a temple to worship his ancestors on an area of over 6,000 square meters. Later, the people of the region combined the worship of the two Ho kings with the Ancestor, hence the site was named the Temple of King Ho. According to books...Nghe An historical sites and scenic spots"This is a rare historical and cultural relic left behind by the Ho Dynasty in Nghe An province." Returning to the land of their ancestors, many descendants of the Ho family, including professors, doctors of science, and businesspeople, have additional material to write their family genealogies and better understand their lineage.
The spring festival of each clan always includes a sacrificial ceremony. Through this ceremony, descendants remember and report their achievements to the spirits of their ancestors, expressing their aspiration to live up to their forefathers' legacy. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder for descendants of each clan to respect the moral principles of their ancestors, their clan, and the law.
In the spring, immersing ourselves in the clan festivals, we gain a deeper appreciation for the enduring beauty of spiritual culture. These clan festivals at the beginning of spring seem to paint a picture, adding sparkle to the springtime landscape and the hearts of the people.
Phan Van Toan -(Nghe An Radio and Television Station)
