The Mong people in Nghe An have free time... tossing pao to find a lover.

(Baonghean.vn)- The Mong people have many unique folk games such as panpipe dancing, spinning top playing,... but the most popular is still the game of throwing pao to find a lover.

In the past, the game only took place on holidays, but now, whenever they have free time, the Mong people organize pao throwing.

The reason is because this community-oriented game does not require much preparation, but simply requires a pao ball.

At first glance, throwing the ball seems simple, just throwing it and catching it, like a competition between two teams. However, there is an "unwritten rule" in this game, which is that the girls and boys who like each other will throw their ball towards that person. If they like each other, they will catch the ball by all means; otherwise, they will let the ball fall or let it fall.

Therefore, this game is the means chosen by Mong boys and girls in Nghe An to play, through which they can find soul mates and love.

Mong girls in Huoi Giang, Ky Son in colorful dresses participate in the pao throwing game.

The Pao fruit is sewn by Mong women from pieces of linen into a round fruit, the size of an orange, stuffed with flax seeds. According to Mong people's concept, flax seeds symbolize fertility and development. Nowadays, to create color for the Pao fruit, Mong people also use Thai brocade or silk to create softness for the Pao fruit...

According to Ms. Lau Y Mai, Buoc Mu village (Na Ngoi - Ky Son), boys can look at the pao and know what kind of personality the girl they are throwing the pao to has, whether she is skillful, hard-working or lazy, careless...

Nowadays, many people use tennis balls as paddles.

The game of throwing the pao is usually played on relatively flat land, the players are divided into two sides, male and female. The distance between the two teams is about 5 - 7 m. This game requires the thrower and the catcher not to let the pao fall to the ground and they have an agreement with each other on the number of times they throw and catch the pao. If one side loses, they usually have to sing, act or do something that has been predetermined.

Boys and girls from Muong Long commune, Ky Son participate in the pao throwing game.

For many tourists when coming to Mong villages, this is a very interesting and attractive game.

With its own unique features, throwing pao is always a game that Mong people, especially young people, often organize. For them, the game is not only a physical activity, training their hands to be more flexible, their eyes to be sharper, their reflexes to be quick, and their judgment to be accurate, but it is also a cultural activity, where they can play pao, talk, sing in response, or exchange thoughts and feelings with each other...

Quang An - Nguyen Books