(HBO) - People across Lac Son district celebrate the country’s National Day on September 2 each year. The atmosphere on the day is vibrant as since early morning, sporting and culture-art activities take place in all villages of Muong Van and Muong Khoi. All family members gather together drinking corn wine and people wear their best clothes to visit each other’s house.
Photo: People in Muong Vo (Lac Son) bake
"uoi” cake on the National Day.
This year, however, the celebrations were scaled down amid the complexities of
COVID-19, in an effort to protect public health and prevent the virus from
spreading.
Even so, all families meticulously prepared food trays to pay tribute to their
ancestors and late President Ho Chi Minh, wishing for health, happiness,
prosperity and peace for their children, the family, the village and the
country.
The National Day celebration in the locality has its roots in the Cong Hoa area
in Muong Vang, said Bui Van Thuom of Vo Tren village of Nhan Nghia commune.
Along with changes in Muong Vang, the scale of National Day celebration has
expanded and it is viewed nearly as grand as the country’s Lunar New Year (Tet)
festival.
Due to the pandemic, the celebration was scaled down to family-sized this year,
unlike in previous years when families usually invite relatives and guests from
other areas to join the celebration, Thuom said.
Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of the district Bui Van Duong said that
the National Day celebration has become a traditional practice which honours
contributions by the predecessors, the Party, President Ho Chi Minh and soldiers
and martyrs who fought for the country’s independence and freedom.
Upholding the tradition has helped conserve and promote the local cultural
characteristics amongst local people and tourists, fostering exchanges,
integration and socio-economic development and ensuring national
defence-security, he added./.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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