Why do Mong people rarely sell pigs?

(Baonghean.vn) -The Hmong people in Nghe An rarely raise pigs for sale. They believe that pork is used as food during important family holidays such as weddings, naming ceremonies, and memorial services.

One time, when we arrived at Tham Hon village (Na Ngoi commune - Ky Son), when we had just reached the village entrance, we suddenly heard the deep sound of the flute. The young man leading the way said: "The Ba Thai Xong House is holding a naming ceremony there."

Seeing that we were curious about the Mong people's naming ceremony, a local happily led us to Ba Thai's house.

Pigs raised in the homes of the Mong people in Nghe An are mainly used in important family holidays. Photo: Dao Tho

It was past noon, and everyone in the village had gathered to attend the naming ceremony for Xong Ba Thai. According to tradition, after getting married, the groom must invite his wife's parents to his house to rename him.

At this time, the young men joined hands to butcher the pig weighing more than 100 kg that Ba Thai's family had saved up to raise for several years. And in that grand party, there was only one main food: pork.

A shaman is performing a ceremony with a big pig in a Mong family. Photo: Dao Tho

In the middle of the house, a shaman was performing a ceremony to ask for his descendants to change their names. The food the shaman used to report to the ancestors and gods was a bowl of pre-cooked pork and a few small balls of rice.

After a while, the name Xong Ba Thai was changed to Xong Rua Thai. Everyone happily ate and drank to celebrate him until late afternoon.

A young Mong man slaughters a pig in preparation for the ceremony. Photo: Dao Tho

After the ceremony, shaman Xong Va Tu said that in naming ceremonies, weddings, etc., the Mong people slaughter pigs. This type of pig must be raised by the Mong people themselves. Families with good conditions should slaughter a large pig, and those who are too poor should prepare a small pig.

Without a pig, the gods and ancestors will certainly not accept it. And after each ceremony, the shamans are given a portion of the pig's meat by the homeowner.

Talking about this, Mr. Lau Va Xo in Son Ha village (Ta Ca commune - Ky Son) also said that Mong people rarely sell pigs. The main purpose of raising pigs is to use them for worshiping on important holidays. Some households have to spend money to buy a pig that costs the same as a cow. Now that life is better, some households that raise a lot also sell pigs, but still very little.

The food used in Mong people's offerings is a bowl of pork and a bowl of white rice. Photo: Dao Tho

It can be seen that the use of pork as the main food during holidays has shown the unique culture of the Mong community in the highlands of Nghe An. However, raising livestock for the purpose of worship without paying attention to economic benefits also needs to be overcome.

Dao Tho