Pigs in the life of Mong people in Nghe An

Pig raising has long been popular among the Hmong community in Nghe An. However, it is easy to see that we rarely see them selling pigs just for family spending needs. Therefore, there are pigs that are raised for many years just to wait for the occasion of… a ceremony.

In the Mong people's holiday meal, pork is an indispensable food.

The Mong people's way of raising pigs is also somewhat different from that of other ethnic groups. Being a clan-based community, every household that raises pigs must build a sturdy pen so as not to affect other households. Separate households that want to let their pigs roam freely often put a collar around their pigs' necks. This will limit the pigs from destroying the surrounding crops.

A pig wearing a Mong people's yoke.

For all ceremonies, big or small, pork is an indispensable food for the Mong people. “This type of pig must be raised by the Mong people themselves. Families who can afford it will make a big pig, and those who are too poor will have to prepare a small one,” said Mr. Lau Va Chong in Nam Can commune (Ky Son district).

Mong people buy pigs to celebrate Tet.

According to the Mong elders, if there is no pig in the worship ceremony, the gods and ancestors will certainly not accept it. And after each ceremony, the shamans are given a portion of the pig's meat by the homeowner as a way to repay their kindness.

Slaughter pork for Tet.

Another special thing is that this community also believes that pig organs are also used to ward off evil spirits in the family. Therefore, after the worship, they often take a part of the intestines and bury it right in front of the main door to prevent bad luck from entering the house.

Surely many people have enjoyed the pork of the Mong people. There are pigs that look very fat on the outside, when butchered, there is a thick layer of fat. However, when cooked, they are very sweet, chewy and fragrant, not greasy. The remaining meat is kept and hung on the kitchen loft, burned on fire to dry, waiting for important guests to serve.

Hmong people hang pork to entertain distinguished guests.

Thus, it can be seen that pigs are livestock that not only serve life but also have spiritual significance in the life of Mong people in Nghe An. However, raising pigs for the purpose of worship without paying attention to economic benefits also needs to be overcome.