Unique customs
In a good day, Tan Van Nghien's family in Khuoi Chu hamlet, Thuong Ha commune, Bao Lac district, Cao Bang province invited Shaman Tan Van Chich and his two assistants, and the family’s relatives to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony for their son, Tan Van Khin. Prepared offerings in the ceremony included alcohol, rice, pork, boiled chicken and a tray of five-color glutinous rice. At the end of the ceremony, participants joined a feast as the gratitude of Nghien’s family to villagers for their help and witnessing the maturity of their son.
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An overview of the coming-of-age ceremony of the San Chi ethnic group in Thuong Ha commune, Bao Loc district, Cao Bang province |
The above ceremony was recaptured in about 15 minutes by artisans from the Cao Bang provincial Art Troupe at the 11th Northeastern Ethnic Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival. The excerpt helped local people and visitors learn more about the typical traditional cultural feature of the San Chi ethnic group.
According to Shaman Tan Van Chich, the coming-of-age ceremony of the San Chi people is a long-standing ritual with distinct cultural features, marking the maturity of a man. The San Chi people hold such a ceremony for their sons aged 12 and above. All men of the group must go through this ceremony. A married man with children is not considered an adult if he does not experience this ceremony.
Also at the festival, artisans from the Lo Lo ethnic group reappeared the ritual named “Grass Ghost.” Lu Di Poong as the ghost had to dance for hours. Poong said that this sacred ritual teaches children and grandchildren to remember their roots, be grateful to their ancestors, and promote the bonds between the family and the clan.
Raising sense of responsibility for national culture
The festival, held every three years, serves as an opportunity for artisans, artists, and the public to exchange, learn and gain experience, as well as raise sense of responsibility in building and developing culture and people of Vietnam.
This year’s festival had many interesting activities such as performances of excerpts of festivals, traditional cultural activities; display of typical cultural products, introduction of traditional food, performance of traditional costumes, and folk games.
Nguyen Thi Hai Nhung, Head of Department of Ethnic Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that activities during the festival created a vivid but subtle and diverse picture of the cultural life of ethnic groups in the Northeastern region.
The festival, according to Vice Secretary of Lang Son provincial Party Committee and Chairman Ho Tien Thieu, is an politico-cultural event that is significant to ethnic groups in the Northeastern region, a cultural exchange to help promote traditional cultural values and popularize locality’s potential and strengths, contributing to building a wealthy, civilized Northeastern region.
Translated by Chung Anh