The Lunar New Year holiday is a special time for the Red Dao people in Yen Bai, a moment to reflect on their hard work, gather with family, and express gratitude to their ancestors. In preparation for this significant occasion, the community dedicates time to cleaning their homes and ancestral altars, a tradition symbolizing the sweeping away of any bad luck from the previous year.
On the last day of the lunar year, the Red Dao people of Vien Son commune in Van Yen district begin their New Year rituals. They sweep their houses and meticulously clean their ancestral altars, connecting with their cultural roots and seeking blessings for the year ahead.
As the year comes to an end, family members gather for a special year-end party. They bathe in water infused with 12 medicinal herbs, carefully selected by the women from the forest that very morning. Dressed in their most exquisite traditional attire, they celebrate New Year’s Eve with joy and anticipation.
During this sacred moment, the family unites in front of the ancestral altar. The owner of the house burns three incense sticks, symbolizing their respect and connection to their ancestors. They then perform a unique custom, lowering a bowl of water and offering each person a sip, believing this act brings better health and washes away any ill fortune. Prayers are also offered for wealth, favorable weather, and abundant crops.
New Year’s Eve is a time for the Red Dao community to unite. They stay close to home, gathering together to welcome the new year and exchanging wishes for good luck and prosperity.
“New Year’s Eve holds immense significance for the Red Dao people,” shares Nguyen Ton Nam, a resident of Khe Lo village in Vien Son commune. “We ensure that our ancestral altars are meticulously prepared with offerings like incense, flowers, fruit, cakes, candy, tea, and tobacco. It is our way of inviting our ancestors to join in the Tet celebrations with us, seeking their blessings for a healthy, happy, and prosperous year ahead. Despite modern influences, we strongly believe in preserving and passing down our traditional culture to future generations.”
On New Year’s Day, the families are bustling with activity as they prepare special dishes to honor their ancestors. Men take on the task of slaughtering pigs and chickens, while women skillfully make sticky rice, gather vegetables, and cook a variety of delicious meals. Efficiency is key, as they work to swiftly present the offerings on the ancestral altar. Following the ritual, relatives and neighbors are warmly invited to share the feast, enhancing the festive atmosphere and fostering a sense of community.
“According to our customs, we prepare a special meal on the morning of New Year’s Day to mark the start of a new year,” explains Trieu Ton Pham, a resident of Lang Moi village in Dai Son commune. “Each family member burns joss paper before leaving the house, a tradition believed to ward off bad luck and invite good fortune into our lives.”
Ancestor worship is the cornerstone of the Tet holiday for the Red Dao community. Their offering trays are carefully curated, featuring wine, pork, chicken, and the indispensable bánh dà y (round sticky rice cake). This cake symbolizes gratitude to the ancestors and gods for the blessings bestowed upon them, particularly the bountiful harvest of the past year. After presenting the offerings, a shaman performs a ritual to convey the community’s wishes to their ancestors and to seek blessings for a healthy and fortunate new year.
Following the ritual, the delicious dishes are shared among family members, relatives, and neighbors. In the Red Dao culture, a crowded gathering during this festive season signifies prosperous business for the family, further strengthening the sense of community and cohesion.
In addition to the feast, young people come together to sing and dance beside the cinnamon forests, celebrating life and bringing joy to the entire community.
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