Cultural beauty in the spring longevity celebration

According to folk beliefs, people who live long and families with elderly people are blessed by heaven. Because of this blessing, they live long and have many children and grandchildren. Celebrating longevity is celebrating that blessing. Children and grandchildren celebrating the longevity of their grandparents and parents brings them more joy and pride.

The elderly in Lang Nhung hamlet, Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong) were celebrated their longevity by the hamlet management board on the occasion of the beginning of the Canh Ty Spring 2020. Photo: Dinh Tuan

In the past, the longevity celebration started when there was someone in the family who was 60 years old or older. Nowadays, as life improves, care and health protection for the elderly are getting better, so the age of longevity celebration often starts from 70 years old or older. And longevity celebration is no longer limited to the scale of family or clan but is of interest to the whole society.

The longevity celebration usually begins on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year at the communal house or village temple according to the traditional rituals and customs of each locality. After the general longevity celebration, children and grandchildren return to celebrate the longevity of their parents and grandparents at home. During the ceremony, grandparents will wear formal attire, usually a turban, shoes, and red or yellow clothes depending on their age.

Children and grandchildren of Mr. Vo Dinh Dan, Lang Nhung hamlet, Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong) gathered to celebrate their grandparents' 70th birthday. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Grandparents are arranged to sit in a solemn place, children and grandchildren come one by one to respectfully offer wine and peaches, pay respect to their parents and grandparents, and then come to the longevity party. Children and grandchildren always give their parents and grandparents best wishes, showing respect and filial piety for the merit of giving birth, raising, caring for and teaching them throughout their lives.

And wish parents and grandparents a long and healthy life to be a support for their children and family. These words are sometimes embroidered on banners, paintings or meaningful poems.

Representatives of the Management Board of Lang Nhung Hamlet, Tam Quang Commune (Tuong Duong) give certificates and longevity gifts to the elderly. Photo: Dinh Tuan

In this ceremony, in addition to the children and grandchildren in the family, there are also relatives from both sides and near and far and guests coming to congratulate and witness the happiness of the elders and their children and grandchildren. This fine tradition of the nation makes the Spring days more cozy, joyful and Tet more meaningful.

The scale of the longevity celebration depends on each family’s conditions and local customs. Usually, families with people turning 70, 80, 90 years old often organize a large-scale longevity celebration. In particular, the older the person is, the more successful and prosperous the children and grandchildren are, the more solemn the celebration will be. Although the scale and form may differ somewhat, they all express the joy of the grandchildren when someone in the family lives a long life.

Mr. Le Van Tho in Thap Bai hamlet, Nghia Lien commune (Nghia Dan) said: “This year, my children and grandchildren organized a birthday party for me on my 80th birthday. The happiest thing is that my children and grandchildren from far away all came back to gather and received the attention of the locality and neighbors. This is a truly meaningful spiritual gift, motivating me to live happily and healthily.”

Also in Nghia Lien commune, Mr. Ha Van Quan said: “Working and living far from home, every year during Tet I often bring my wife and children back to visit my hometown. This year, my mother celebrated her 70th birthday, we returned a week before Tet to prepare for the birthday celebration. The birthday celebration ceremony in my hometown is very warm, it is a traditional cultural feature, showing respect for the elderly.”

Mr. Nguyen Trung Thau, Binh Phat hamlet, Nghia Binh commune (Nghia Dan) with his children and grandchildren at the ceremony to celebrate his 80th birthday. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Nguyen Van Huu - Chairman of the Elderly Association of Nghia Dan district said: "Every year, on the occasion of Tet, the association organizes longevity celebrations for the elderly, 100% of the elderly participate in the longevity celebration. The longevity celebration in early spring reflects the cultural identity of the nation, educating the younger generation about filial piety towards grandparents and parents. At the same time, it encourages the elderly to continue to strive to live happily and healthily, and be an exemplary model for their children and grandchildren to follow."

Celebrating longevity for the elderly has become a beautiful traditional cultural feature in the early spring of the new year. Through this, we educate the younger generation about the tradition of “Respect for the elderly”, “When drinking water, remember its source” and encourage the elderly to live happily, healthily and usefully.