Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) has always been an important annual festival for Vietnamese people. In the capital city, once the center of national power, the atmosphere is even more solemn. For the ancients, Tet did not just begin on the first day, but started on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, the moment of bidding farewell to the old year and preparing to welcome the new. The rituals of "bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new" are therefore not simply customs, but a way for people to place themselves within the cycle of heaven and earth, closing one cycle and opening up new hope.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Duc Cuong, President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, shared that the "Farewell to the Old, Welcome to the New" rituals are not simply customs and beliefs, but also reflect the concept of order and social norms. Each ritual implies closing a cycle of time and opening a new era with the hope of national peace and prosperity.

The "Farewell to the Old, Welcome to the New" ceremony was solemnly reenacted by the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center.

Amidst the gentle, fragrant incense smoke, the ceremonial procession slowly advanced onto the dragon courtyard, their robes and headwear gleaming in the spring sunshine. The solemn ceremonial music, harmonizing with the chanting of names, echoed through the ancient space, bringing the entire courtyard to a moment of quiet contemplation. Every gesture of offering, every kneeling and turning was performed according to ancient tradition.

From that very moment, the "Farewell to the Old Year, Welcome to the New Year" ceremony begins, marking the end of the old year and conveying wishes for a peaceful and prosperous spring. In the courtyard of the Kính Thiên Palace, the Calendar Offering ceremony is reenacted with full ceremonial rites. Each calendar is presented amidst solemn chanting of rituals. In feudal dynasties, the king was considered the Son of Heaven, playing the role of connecting heaven and the people, and therefore had the responsibility of issuing calendars to determine agricultural seasons, rituals, and social stability.

Each calendar was offered up at the Calendar Offering Ceremony.

During the Ly Dynasty, the Chinh Duong Tower was built to compile the Thu Thoi calendar; during the Tran Dynasty, the Thai Su Bureau was established to create the Hiep Ky calendar; and during the Le Dynasty, the Tu Thien Giam was established to compile the Khâm Thu calendar and the Bac Trung Kinh. After being approved by the king, the calendars were printed and distributed according to different groups: the Imperial calendar for the king, the Long Phuong calendar for worship, the Official calendar for officials, and the People's calendar distributed to villages and communes. At the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, the seals were affixed, and on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the court held a solemn ceremony of presenting the calendar in the dragon courtyard of the Kinh Thien Palace.

Following this is the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the Kitchen Gods and the ritual of releasing carp to send them back to heaven. The image of the carp, a symbol of perseverance and the aspiration to transform into a dragon in Vietnamese culture, is familiar yet rich in meaning, conveying the wish for a peaceful and prosperous new year for the nation and each family. Notably, after a meticulous process of collecting and researching, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center annually revives this ritual as a way to preserve and illuminate the beauty of the traditional Tet culture of Hanoi every time Tet and spring arrive.

The ritual of releasing carp to bid farewell to the Kitchen God and the Stove God as they ascend to heaven.

In keeping with the festive atmosphere, the pole-raising ceremony (Thang Tieu ceremony) is also performed according to traditional rituals. Numerous items with spiritual significance, such as amulets, five-colored flags, and wind chimes, are hung atop the towering bamboo poles. The erection of the pole symbolizes warding off evil spirits, protecting the family from misfortune, and praying for a peaceful and lucky new year. The pole is erected by the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month and taken down on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, marking the end of the Tet holiday.

The New Year's pole is erected during the New Year's pole-raising ceremony (Thuong Tieu ceremony) to pray for a peaceful new year.

The atmosphere of the ancient imperial citadel was further evoked through a reenactment of the changing of the guard ceremony. The strict regulations regarding guarding the forbidden citadel, the requirement for royal decrees for entry and exit, the use of ivory tablets during the day, and tiger-shaped insignia at night, were vividly recreated, helping the public to visualize the rhythmic discipline within the Thang Long imperial palace. Through these reenactments of ceremonies, which were both re-enacted and creatively designed, the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center introduced and recreated ancient court rituals to the public. This contributed to the enduring vitality of traditional historical and cultural heritage, providing today's public with unique experiences within the sacred space of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, with its more than 1000 years of history.

The changing of the guard ceremony helps the public visualize the rhythm of discipline within the Thang Long imperial palace.

Jonathan Baker, Head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, shared: “This is the second time I have attended this ceremony and also marks the first year of my term as Head of UNESCO in Vietnam. I truly feel fortunate to be working in a country that highly values ​​the preservation and promotion of heritage, and I deeply appreciate all these meaningful efforts and initiatives.”

"Bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new" is therefore not just about reenacting rituals for viewing. It is a moment when people today can return to the past, touching the cultural heritage that their ancestors cherished and preserved. And in that transitional moment, spring arrives not only with a new page turned in the calendar, but also with the renewed belief that amidst the rhythm of modern life, traditional cultures still steadfastly retain their value.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/don-nam-moi-qua-nghi-le-tong-cuu-nghinh-tan-1026266