Dragon and snake carrying trays of offerings on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month

(Baonghean.vn) - The custom of carrying trays of food to contribute to the feast not only has the meaning of remembering the deceased but also reminds descendants of their responsibility to their grandparents and ancestors.It is a unique cultural feature that has existed for a long time and has been maintained by the people of Yen Thanh rice fields to this day.

On the small streets of Yen Thanh district during the holidays, especially on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, it is not difficult to see people carrying trays of food to contribute to the feast. The image of women carrying trays with their voices and laughter evokes a sense of peace and closeness.

According to the local people’s belief, the task of preparing the offerings and delivering them to the church is usually done by women. No matter how far or near the journey, the mothers, sisters, and girls are happy. The offerings are arranged in baskets, placed on double carrying poles, and then carried on the shoulders to the family church.

The tray of offerings is completed by the hands of the housewife in the family and bears the identity of the rice countryside. People believe that the dead are like the earthly world, and a complete tray of offerings shows the respect of the descendants in the family. The tray of offerings cannot lack traditional dishes such as banh chung, banh tet, meat, fish and vegetables.

During the long journey, women often take turns carrying the load or rest along the way to regain strength.

In case the family has few people or is not strong enough to carry the tray, women can use bicycles to carry the tray, but they can only push the bicycle, not sit on it.

The offerings are arranged in order at the church for worship.

The offerings are displayed in the lower church, and the main altar usually has a sticky rice and chicken offering. After the patriarch of the family completes the worshiping ceremony, everyone in the family will gather to wait for the incense to finish to perform the longevity tray lowering ceremony. This is the time for the elders in the family as well as the descendants near and far to chat and connect the generations. Every year, this custom is still maintained and people consider it a beautiful cultural feature of the people of Yen Thanh rice land.

Thanh Quynh