The sacred day of the Ancestor Commemoration
(Baonghean)"No matter where one goes, remember the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day on the tenth day of the third lunar month" – this ancient folk song welcomes and invites visitors back to their roots, imbued with the sacred spirit of the nation's mountains and rivers. The Hung Kings' Commemoration Day in Vinh City, Nghe An province, is held annually at Hong Son Temple. This is also an occasion for the descendants of the Hung Kings to turn towards their national origins, express gratitude for the merits of their ancestors, and remind each person to be grateful and emulate their ancestors in living according to moral principles.
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On the morning of April 23, 2010 (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month), Vinh City experienced rain and cold weather. Despite this, crowds still flocked to Hong Son Temple to attend the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony. At exactly 7:30 AM, the ceremony began, and the rain intensified, but the number of attendees continued to grow. Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan, from Block 13, Trung Do Ward, Vinh City, is over 70 years old, but she arrived very early. Ms. Xuan shared: “Every year I come here to attend the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony and light incense to show my respect and remembrance of the great contributions of the Hung Kings.” Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy from Doi Cung Ward (Vinh City), along with other women from her neighborhood, had also arrived at Hong Son Temple nearly an hour before the ceremony began. Their offerings were meticulously prepared: sticky rice cakes, pork sausage, and beautifully arranged red roses on the fruit platter. Ms. Thuy said: "The Hung Kings Commemoration Day is an occasion for everyone to remember their roots, to remember their ancestral homeland. Every year, my sisters and I come here regardless of the weather."
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The commemoration of Hung Kings' Ancestral Day consists of two parts: a state ceremony and a spiritual ceremony. The spiritual ceremony comprises three parts: offering flowers, presenting offerings, and offering incense. Here, delegates and citizens respectfully offered fragrant incense, expressing their reverence and gratitude for the immense contributions of the Hung Kings. Before the spirits of the Hung Kings, delegates and citizens pledged to uphold the patriotic tradition, strive to build a more prosperous and beautiful homeland; unite as one, compete creatively, and contribute to building and developing Vinh City into an increasingly civilized and modern city, worthy of its status as a Class I urban center and the economic and cultural hub of the North Central region. This also reflects each Vietnamese citizen fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh's sacred admonition: "The Hung Kings founded the nation. We, their descendants, must together preserve it."
Thu Huong
