Unique festival of burning a 'mountain' of votive paper for villagers to get red in Hanoi

On the evening of February 1, hundreds of people in An Dinh village jostled to get fire from the "mountain" of votive paper burned at the village communal house to bring home, hoping to bring red for a lucky year for their families.

It has become a tradition that every year on the evening of the 11th day of the first lunar month, at An Dinh communal house (Yen Nghia Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi ), people organize a fire-getting festival (also known as "getting red"). According to this custom, votive paper is burned at night and people take the fire home, called "getting red" at the beginning of the year.

The elders do the procedures before bringing the votive paper to the communal house yard to burn.

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According to Thanh Nien , at around 9 p.m. on February 1 (January 11 of the lunar calendar), the village elders will bring all the votive offerings from the villagers and visitors to the middle of the communal house yard to burn, while incense is given to villagers to use as a fire-calling object to bring back to the family altar.

People believe that whoever gets the fire first will receive more luck for their family in the new year. If they can bring the still-burning incense to their family altar, they will have even more luck. This custom represents the wish for good health, good business, and a happy and prosperous family.

The "mountain" of votive paper offerings from locals and visitors is brought to the middle of the communal house yard.

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The fire was taken from the communal house by the celebrant of the An Dinh village festival to spread blessings to the villagers.

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Unique procession of fake kings and queens: dozens of young men shouting and tossing the palanquin

People gathered around the fire

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Immediately after the votive paper caught fire, villagers with bundles of incense prepared in advance gathered to "get red"

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The incense sticks held in people's hands were quickly lit.

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The first person to get the fire will quickly return home.

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Some people used large bundles of incense to keep the fire burning on the way home.

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People often build fires for each other, those inside will give fire to those outside to show their neighborly love.

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After making fire, people quickly returned home to burn incense on the family altar.

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Mr. Nguyen Quoc Chinh burned incense after getting red from the village temple with the wish that his whole family will have good health, a prosperous and happy life.

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Young men from Trieu Khuc village wear skirts, powdered cheeks and red lips, and dance to the bong dance.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doc-dao-le-hoi-dot-ca-nui-vang-ma-cho-dan-lang-lay-do-o-ha-noi-18523020207070263.htm