Some New Year's Eve customs of the White Thai people in Nghe An
From the twenty-second and twenty-third of the lunar new year, the White Thai people (southwestern Nghe An) have prepared for the new year: Can wine, string and dong leaves to wrap banh chung on the twenty-ninth night of the new year. Dry firewood is piled under the floors of the houses, a fat pig is ready in the pen to be slaughtered on the thirtieth morning of the new year...
(Baonghean.vn) -From the twenty-second and twenty-third of the lunar new year, the White Thai people (southwestern Nghe An) have prepared for the new year: Can wine, string and dong leaves to wrap banh chung on the twenty-ninth night of the new year. Dry firewood is piled under the floors of the houses, a fat pig is ready in the pen to be slaughtered on the thirtieth morning of the new year...
Tet market 25th of December
The central markets of the district are usually bustling with buyers and sellers from the 21st and 22nd of the 12th lunar month, with all kinds of goods pouring in, creating a festival of Tet goods, and people going to the Tet market in droves. Goods come from the lowlands, from the villages of ethnic minorities. The atmosphere of the spring festival is extremely joyful.
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But the market day on December 25th is still eagerly awaited by many people. It has become a tradition that people gather at the market five days before the New Year to pray for luck, peace and happiness. In addition to shopping, the district market is also a meeting place for couples and people seek out friends to confide in and satisfy their longing after many days apart. On the morning of December 25th, everyone gets up very early, no one calls anyone but the roads winding along the mountainside are bustling with the voices and laughter of people from the villages going to the market. People going to the year-end market need joy more than shopping.
Visiting the grave on December 29
The White Thai people in southwest Nghe An believe that everything must be renovated and repaired after the new year. Houses must be free of trash and all furniture must be cleaned. Visiting the graves of deceased relatives is also an important task.
On the 29th of Tet, the cemeteries that were deserted all year round suddenly became bustling with people visiting their graves. It started with a ceremony to offer wine to ask for permission from their ancestors to renovate their living places, and then invite them to celebrate Tet with their village and descendants. They organized to clear away bushes and weeds, restore their ancestors' graves, and pray for a good new year. Graves that had not been visited for a long time were also rebuilt. A stick of incense was placed on an anonymous grave so that their souls in heaven could be somewhat comforted when their descendants, for some reason, did not come to visit their graves.
Ceremony to call the spirit back to celebrate Tet
In the past year, everyone had to go up and down the forest to make a living. Adults cleared land, cut wood in the forest, children herded buffalo, collected firewood, gathered vegetables, hunted birds and animals. The souls of family members were most likely in some stream or mountain corner and had not returned yet. The soul calling ceremony was held to guide the lost souls back to celebrate Tet.
The day of the soul calling ceremony is not specifically determined. People usually choose an auspicious day in December to hold it, and it is not necessary for every family to hold a soul calling ceremony. However, for families with small children or sick people, the soul calling ceremony is a very important ritual before each Tet holiday.
The offerings for the soul-calling ceremony were simple, consisting of only a plate of sticky rice and a chicken. Next to the offering tray were the shirts of the family members. After the ceremony, each person had a string tied around their wrist so that from now on their soul would not wander off again.
Invite each other to eat New Year's Eve party
The White Thai people in Western Nghe An usually have their New Year's Eve meal at noon on the 30th of Tet. After the ceremony to invite their ancestors to celebrate Tet, the offering tray is taken down, and then the descendants can enjoy the blessings. Neighbors often visit each other's houses to have the New Year's Eve meal, taking turns from house to house. They believe that the last meal of the year should be attended by close friends.
Ha Phuong
