New Year customs in Nghe An

(Baonghean) - From the plains to the sea and mountains, Nghe An people have unique spring customs...

New Year's fishing ceremony

At the beginning of the new year, fishermen in coastal districts of Quynh Luu, Hoang Mai Town, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Cua Lo Town... solemnly held fishing ceremonies, thanking the gods for protecting their safe trips to the sea this year and praying for a new year with a full catch of fish and shrimp.

Fishing festival in Cua Lo town

The festival is usually held on the 4th day of Tet. The fishermen in the area put on their most formal costumes, join each other in a bustling procession to the sound of drums, and go around all the streets in the village before heading out to sea. Offerings include sticky rice, a chicken (or a pig's head), fruits, incense and flowers, which are brought down to the boat by strong, young fishermen to offer to the river and sea gods.

In addition to the individual ceremony on each boat, fishermen also participate in a communal fishing ceremony organized by the locality. The fishing ceremony helps to make the spring atmosphere more joyful, motivating fishermen to continue to confidently go out to sea and stick to the sea.

Shoulder pole reminds of the origin

For the people of Yen Thanh district, Tet is sacred with the meaning of family reunion, remembering the merits of ancestors, and marking the tradition of the family. On the afternoon of the last day of the year, families in the rice fields gather together, holding a ceremony to welcome "grandparents, grandparents" and the deceased to celebrate Tet with their children and grandchildren. The ceremony must include a bowl of new rice and a banh chung cake put in two baskets, placed on a shoulder pole next to the ancestral altar. Those two shoulder poles are also used to carry offerings to the ancestors on the first day of the year...

On the first morning of the new year, all family members wake up early, prepare the food trays and arrange the offerings in two baskets. The women are responsible for carrying the offerings to the family temple.

The presence of the carrying poles on Tet holiday is a symbol of the spirit of "When drinking water, remember its source", teaching and reminding children and grandchildren and showing gratitude for traditional values.

Spring writing

The New Year's writing ceremony in Quynh Doi (Quynh Luu) has long been a beautiful custom, preserved and promoted by the local government and people. On the morning of the 3rd day of Tet every year, the most educated or highest-ranking person in the family will perform the writing ceremony. The writing ceremony has become a sacred ritual.

Nowadays, the New Year's writing ceremony in Quynh Doi has many innovations, developing into a vibrant movement throughout the commune.

Spring writing ceremony in Quynh Doi (Quynh Luu)

Right after the New Year's Eve, the commune's education promotion association encouraged each family to guide their school-age children to write the first words of the year. On the morning of the second day of Tet, many people gathered at the village communal house to hold the writing ceremony. Everyone had the right to participate. Paper and pen were distributed and the topic was given by the organizing committee, usually writing a prose or poem praising the beauty of the homeland and country today in the national language. After finishing writing, submit it to the organizing committee, then the organizing committee will score "good writing, good handwriting" and give out prizes.

The custom of measuring "fairy footprints"

On the days before Tet, people of Dien Phu commune, Dien Chau district often flock to Mao Son temple to line up to place their feet on the “fairy footprint” on the rock to pray for good luck in the new year. It is a rock about 10 square meters wide located right at the foot of the mountain. On the rock is the imprint of a right foot in the middle, as wide as an adult’s foot, with 5 toes clearly visible. Legend has it that the footprint on the rock must be a “fairy foot” because the rock is so hard that no ordinary human foot can leave an imprint on it.

They put their feet on the "fairy feet" on the rock in the hope of receiving good luck at the beginning of the year, hoping to follow in the fairy's footsteps to be smart, study well and be healthy.

Mong people's Hop Ky festival

In the Mong people's Tet customs, the most prominent is the Hap Ky ceremony (calling the soul) for the elderly, similar to the longevity celebration in the lowlands. In the calling soul ceremony, it is mandatory to have a pair of chickens, 1 male, 1 female, and 1 pig. After slaughtering the rooster and presenting the offerings, the chicken's feet and head will be examined by elders or shamans to predict future good and bad events. The Hap Ky ceremony is a beautiful custom of the Mong people in Nghe An, showing filial piety and respect for the elderly in the family.

Bathing in the stream for health

This is a traditional custom of the Tho ethnic group that takes place after the New Year's Eve. All family members, from the elderly to the young and children, rush to the stream to bathe. It is not necessary to bathe the whole body, but just touch the stream water in the first hours of the new year. The Tho people believe that this is the time when the water is at its clearest, and fairies from heaven also come down to bathe. Therefore, bathing at this time will bring good luck and health throughout the year. Currently, due to many changes in economic and social life, Tho people's houses are gradually moving away from rivers and streams, this custom is no longer practiced by many people but only remains in the memories of the elderly.

Soul calling ceremony

The Thai people have a custom of calling the souls and making the spirits of family members on the evening of the 28th, 29th or 30th of Tet. The homeowner will slaughter 2 chickens, 1 to worship the ancestors, 1 to call the souls of everyone in the family. To call the souls, the shaman takes a shirt from each person, ties one end together, hangs it over the shoulder, holds a burning stick in his hand, then brings it to the village entrance to call the souls two or three times, then goes back to the foot of the stairs and calls again. When finished, the shaman personally ties a black thread around the wrist of each family member to ward off evil spirits. The thread must be left to break on its own, if it breaks, the owner will easily get sick or encounter bad things.

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