People slaughter cows and pigs to celebrate the beginning of spring.
Huy Thu•February 16, 2024 14:11
(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of February 16 (ie January 7, year of the Dragon), many localities in the province held the opening ceremony of Spring attracting a large number of people to participate.
In Thanh Chuong district, to prepare for the opening ceremony, temples in hamlets and communes were cleaned, repaired, and decorated with flags and flowers by the people. Photo: Huy ThuPeople in Tien Quanh hamlet, Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong) joined hands to slaughter cows, pigs, and prepare sticky rice to make offerings for the Spring opening ceremony. Photo: Huy ThuIt is known that on the afternoon of the 6th day of Tet, at the cultural house of Tien Quanh hamlet, people slaughtered a cow. Last night, the young people in the hamlet gathered to set up a stove, blow charcoal, roast a whole cow, and carefully grill the beef. Photo: Huy ThuOn the morning of January 7, after preparing the offerings, the local people sent young men to carry the offerings back to Quan Linh, including a tray of raspberries, a tray of fruit, and a roasted calf. Photo: Huy ThuOn the occasion of the opening ceremony, people of Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong) often put aside all personal matters and gather at temples in the commune such as Quan Linh temple, Bao An temple, Cao Son temple... to attend the ceremony. When returning to the temple, people often prepare offerings such as fruits, candies, incense... to offer to the gods. During this ceremony, people also voluntarily contribute tens of millions of dong in donations to renovate and build the village temple. Photo: Huy ThuThe offerings for the opening ceremony at the temples are quite complete, in addition to roasted veal, roasted pig, sticky rice, boiled chicken, there are also fruits, candies, votive offerings... Mr. Nguyen Son in Tien Quanh hamlet, Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong) shared: This morning, he prepared offerings to burn incense and attend the opening ceremony at 2 temples near his house. According to Mr. Son, after Tet, after the Opening Ceremony is finished, the children in the area will go to work far away. Photo: Huy ThuThe opening ceremony at the temples takes place solemnly with full traditional rituals (offering offerings, offering incense, offering wine, bowing, reciting poems, burning votive papers...). The ceremony organizers (chanters, celebrants, wine attendants, music band... wear traditional costumes. In the photo: Opening ceremony at Quan Linh temple, Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Huy ThuThe prayer in the opening ceremony expresses the people's gratitude to the gods who have protected the country and the people, and the village, and wishes to continue receiving the blessings and support of the gods in the new year. The person reading the prayer in the opening ceremony often has an emotional and calm voice. In the photo: The opening ceremony at Bao An temple in Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Huy ThuAfter the ceremony, people respectfully offered incense to express their gratitude to the gods and tutelary deities, praying for a new year of good health, prosperity, and smooth work. On this occasion, not only in Thanh Chuong but also in many districts and towns in the province, people from other localities solemnly held the Khai Ha ceremony at temples and communal houses. Photo: Huy ThuAfter the opening ceremony, the families who erected the Tet poles took them down, officially ending the happy days of Tet and welcoming Spring, and starting to go to the fields to produce. The opening ceremony of the first spring is a beautiful traditional cultural feature of the homeland and nation, expressing the spirit of remembering the source of drinking water and the spirit of deep community solidarity. Photo: Huy Thu
The opening ceremony in Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong). Video: Huy Thu
