Belong to the Hmong ethnicity, one of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, locals here usually celebrate Tet a month earlier than the rest of the country. This year, Tet came even sooner because of an extra month in a leap year.

There are 30 days in a month in the Hmong calendar with no exception.

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A man plays the blindfold pig catching. Source: vietnamnews

The 361st day is the Hmong’s Tet, their biggest celebration of the year.

Banh giay (a white, flat and round glutinous rice cake) is the holiday’s must-have food. Locals typically make a lot of banh giay for ceremonies and also to give families, friends and visitors to their village.

On the last day of the year, the Hmong cleaned their house with a small bamboo branch while praying for health and prosperity for the household in the year to come.

In another Tet ritual, a member of the household, who holds a rooster and a hen while he or she stands by the front door along with a shaman. The shaman occasionally tosses a bamboo branch outside while chanting in a symbolic gesture to throw out all sadness and misfortune of the old year.

On the morning of the first day, a Mong household erects a tall tree in the middle of the front yard. Using a rope and tree branch, they create a ceremonial U-shaped gate. All members of the household then follow the eldest under the gate, men seven times and women nine times, in a ceremony to bring good luck.

The holiday season is also a time for the people to enjoy outdoor activities, musical performances and traditional games.

Source: VNA