The Imperial Citadel - a space that "awakens" memories of Tet (Lunar New Year) in the royal court.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a complex of historical relics associated with the history of Thang Long - Hanoi throughout 13 centuries, beginning from the pre-Thang Long period (7th - 9th centuries) through the Dinh - Pre-Le dynasties (10th century), especially flourishing under the Ly - Tran - Le dynasties (11th - 18th centuries), through the Nguyen dynasty (19th - 20th centuries) to the present day. Thang Long Imperial Citadel is one of the typical spaces reflecting the power structure and court life of the Vietnamese feudal dynasties. The central area of Thang Long Imperial Citadel was the first site in Hanoi to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2010 due to its integrity, authenticity, and outstanding global values.
In the past, the Lunar New Year celebrations in the imperial palace began very early. As early as the twelfth lunar month, the court conducted ceremonies to summarize the old year, bestow rewards, confer titles, and prepare offerings to heaven, earth, ancestors, and former emperors. All activities were strictly regulated, from attire and ceremonial music to incense offerings and New Year greetings. Unlike the folk New Year celebrations in the countryside, the Lunar New Year in Thang Long (Hanoi) was the culmination of rituals, laws, and the concept of "governing the country and ensuring the people's well-being." The New Year was not only a time for rest and recreation, but also a time to affirm the authority of the dynasty, consolidate social order, and express the aspiration for peace and prosperity.
In ancient times, the king considered himself the Son of Heaven, the one who ruled over all people on behalf of Heaven. Therefore, the king was responsible for creating a calendar to inform the people of the time and weather so that they could carry out agricultural activities, perform rituals, and maintain a stable life. During the Le Dynasty, the court annually compiled a public calendar for the new year. The king approved it and then ordered it to be engraved, printed, and bound. On the 24th day of the 12th lunar month, at the Dragon Courtyard of the Kinh Thien Palace, the court solemnly held a ceremony to present the royal calendar to the emperor and distribute it to officials and the people. The Ceremony of Presenting and Distributing the Calendar marked the arrival of Tet (Lunar New Year) and Spring.
Every Lunar New Year, Thang Long Imperial Citadel becomes a highlight in programs recreating traditional Tet celebrations, with its ancient atmosphere, moss-covered walls, old brick floors, and majestic archways. The reenactment of the royal Tet at the Imperial Citadel focuses on emphasizing the spirit of ritual, the standards, and the cultural beauty of a court rooted in morality and discipline.
The most important highlight in recreating Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) at the Imperial Citadel is the meticulously reconstructed court rituals. Rituals such as the incense offering ceremony at the beginning of spring, the New Year's greeting ceremony, and the spring blessing ceremony are recreated based on historical documents and scientific historical research, ensuring solemnity and accuracy.
The solemn, slow-paced court music resonated, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the folk spring festival. Every step and movement of the participants in the ceremony followed established rules, reflecting the dignified spirit of the ancient imperial court.
On the day of the Kitchen God and Stove God festival (23rd day of the 12th lunar month), the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center organized a reenactment of the "Farewell to the Old Year, Welcome to the New Year" ceremony at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage Site. Associate Professor Dr. Tran Duc Cuong, Chairman of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, stated that the "Farewell to the Old Year, Welcome to the New Year" ceremonies conclude the old year and welcome the new spring with wishes for peace, joy, and family reunion. These include: the ceremony of worshipping the Kitchen God and Stove God, the ceremony of waving the flag, sealing the calendar, offering the spring ox, and erecting the New Year's pole... These are traditional rituals in the ancient royal court, marking the beginning of a series of ceremonies performed by the king and the court during the Lunar New Year, taking place from the end of the 12th lunar month to the 15th day of the 1st lunar month.
Further explaining the significance of traditional Tet rituals in the ancient royal court, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Duc Cuong said that the ceremony of erecting the New Year's pole is an indispensable ritual during the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. The New Year's pole is a symbol of spring, carrying auspicious meanings and blessings. When the New Year's pole is erected in the Imperial Palace, the people also begin to erect poles in front of their houses.
The ceremony of presenting and distributing the calendar reflects the importance the feudal court placed on calendar making, as well as its concern for weather phenomena, climate, auspicious days and times, and favorable conditions for agricultural production and the daily lives of the court and the people.
The Spring Ox Offering Ceremony is an important ritual meticulously prepared by the imperial court, performed on the first day of spring with the wish for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and a prosperous and abundant spring.
The Lunar New Year's Day ceremony is the first grand court ceremony of the imperial court, held on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This is a ceremonial gathering, an occasion for the king, the royal family, and all the officials to meet on the first day of the new year, wishing the king longevity and the people prosperity and happiness. Provinces throughout the country offer congratulatory messages to the king. On this occasion, the king also hosts a banquet and bestows spring rewards upon the officials.
Nguyen Thanh Quang, Director of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, shared that the "Farewell to the Old, Welcome to the New" ceremonies recreate unique folk and royal customs and rituals. These activities contribute to preserving the good customs and traditions of our ancestors, reviving the essence of national culture, and educating the younger generation about traditions.
To promote the value of typical Tet rituals of the royal court as well as traditional folk Tet customs, in addition to traditional activities such as erecting the Tet pole and releasing carp, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center organizes the reenactment of some rituals such as: the Calendar Offering Ceremony, the Changing of the Guard Ceremony…
At the event, Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, expressed his delight at attending the traditional Vietnamese Tet ceremonies: “The ‘Farewell to the Old Year, Welcome to the New Year’ ceremony is a unique and beautiful traditional cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, marking the beginning of the Lunar New Year and the Vietnamese festival season. It reminds us of traditional customs for welcoming the new year, contributing to the richness of Vietnam’s abundant cultural heritage.”
Through these rituals, the public not only gets to "see Tet" but also "understand Tet" as it was for their ancestors, understanding why the royal court Tet played such an important role in maintaining social order and conveying the political and cultural messages of the dynasty.
The educational value of history through experiencing the Lunar New Year at the royal court.
A notable aspect of the Tet (Lunar New Year) reenactment at the Imperial Citadel is the harmonious blend of courtly and folk Tet traditions. Alongside solemn ceremonies, traditional cultural activities such as calligraphy writing at the beginning of the year, folk games, and handicraft demonstrations are also organized, fostering a sense of closeness with the public.
Stepping into the space recreating Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) at the Imperial Citadel, the public can admire the restored horizontal plaques and couplets in ancient calligraphy, praising spring, national peace and prosperity, and a flourishing imperial court.
The exhibition halls showcase court attire, from the robes and hats of civil and military officials to ceremonial costumes used during Tet (Lunar New Year). Each detail is carefully annotated, helping viewers understand that behind the outward beauty lies a whole system of rules, symbols, and life philosophies of the ancients.
The arrangement of the five-fruit offering, banh chung (square sticky rice cake), and banh day (round sticky rice cake) follows a royal style, differing from folk offerings in its emphasis on balance, harmony, and symbolic meaning. Each offering carries a message about heaven, earth, and humanity, and about the cyclical nature of the universe in Eastern philosophy.
The Tet (Lunar New Year) reenactment at the Imperial Citadel is particularly attractive to students and young families. Instead of approaching history through dry textbooks, viewers can "touch" history through vivid, visual experiences, helping the younger generation develop an appreciation for the nation's cultural heritage.
Amidst the changes of the times, preserving the spirit of the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) in heritage spaces is a way for the past to continue illuminating the present, adding cultural depth and spiritual meaning to today's spring for the Vietnamese people. Recreating the traditional royal Tet at the Imperial Citadel contributes to preserving and spreading the unique cultural values of the capital city.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/dau-an-xuan-cung-dinh-giua-manh-dat-kinh-ky-ngan-nam.html
![[Photo] New recruits happily exercise their right to vote at their unit.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/03/14/1773473286544_stug0337-6388-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)