Happy Longevity in the Spring
(Baonghean) -For many generations, the custom of celebrating longevity in early Spring has become a beautiful traditional cultural feature with many meanings of our people. The people who are celebrated longevity are the elderly, usually 60 years old or older. In the folk consciousness, these are the people who enjoy "heavenly age".
"Longevity" is one of the great things that people desire: "Wealth - Nobility - Longevity - Health - Peace". Vietnamese people often consider the elderly and families with elderly people to be very lucky, very lucky to live long, to have many children and grandchildren. Celebrating longevity is to celebrate that luck. There is an anecdote that: In the early 20th century, Mr. Tam Nguyen Yen Do became a Governor, had reached the "ancient age" but when he returned to his village, he still bowed down before an 80-year-old farmer, because according to him, titles can be granted by kings and lords but age is only given by God.
|
Therefore, from ancient times to the present, in all times and places, there is the Longevity Celebration custom. This solemn ceremony is usually held in the first days of Spring (Lunar New Year). Compared to before, although the Longevity Celebration custom today has many new rituals, it is usually organized in two forms: organized by the government, the local elderly association at the village communal house (or cultural house) and organized by children and grandchildren at home.
At the longevity celebration at the village communal house, the elders are congratulated by the government and recognized for their contributions to social work and education of their children and grandchildren. The longevity celebration at home is an opportunity for children and grandchildren to show their gratitude to their parents and grandparents. Through this ceremony, people have the opportunity to demonstrate the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source".
Organizing a longevity celebration is completely voluntary, with a sacred and solemn spirit, not for any particular purpose. A big or small celebration shows the joy of the family because of the presence of an elderly person. Celebrating longevity is to celebrate a long life, not to show off title or wealth. The person being celebrated is respected by the government, children, and neighbors, but does not have any additional benefits.
Up to now, the custom of "Yen Lao" has added rich rituals such as composing poems and parallel sentences to wish for longevity, performing arts, children and grandchildren giving flowers, taking souvenir photos... But in general, this celebration still retains the meaning of honoring longevity - a blessing from heaven. And the longevity celebration rituals, the wishes, the red silk shirts, the turbans, the wine... are forever a priceless source of spiritual encouragement, when the elderly are in the autumn days of their lives.
Article and photos: Phan Tu