What is the meaning of erecting a pole in Vietnamese culture?

The pole brings luck and prosperity.

The pole has long appeared in the Treasury of Vietnamese folk tales, with the meaning of protecting people from the invasion of evil spirits. According to folk beliefs, the pole is a sacred symbol on the occasion of the Lunar New Year every year. In the traditional holidays of the Vietnamese people, the pole has many meanings, both as a spiritual support and as a place to send wishes for a prosperous new year of the people.

Usually, the pole is made from tall bamboo stalks, keeping the trunk intact and some leaves at the top. The joints of the bamboo, if taken out, will be flattened. The base will be sprinkled with white lime powder in an arc shape facing the outside of the house. According to research, depending on each region (upstream or downstream), there will be different ways to decorate the pole.

What does the word — The pole-raising ceremony at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture.

Because, the pole is not simply a long bamboo pole erected high, but each decoration on the pole has a certain meaning, a symbolic meaning for the region, if not to protect peace then also to pray for luck and prosperity. For example, the bell symbolizes good things. Chicken feathers symbolize peace. Pandan leaves to ward off evil spirits or votive paper money to pray for wealth.

In his research, Trinh Hoai Duc could not come up with the custom of erecting the pole, and under King Minh Mang, the Cabinet officials could not come up with it either. Once, the king asked his courtier: "What scriptures does the pole-raising ceremony on New Year's Eve originate from?". Cabinet official Ha Tong Quyen replied that he had only heard it from Buddhist scriptures and did not know the reason. At that time, the king said: "The ancients established this ceremony with the meaning that the pole-raising ceremony represents the new year. So the ceremony was born from that meaning."

Why do we erect a pole on the occasion of Lunar New Year?

According to ancient customs, the Vietnamese people often erect the pole on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (ie the day of the Kitchen Gods). Folklore believes that when the family's guardian gods are absent, the pole is erected to ward off evil spirits, ward off evil spirits, and protect the peace of the family.

For some ethnic minorities, it is different. The Muong people erect the Neu tree on the 27th and 28th of December, while the Mong people usually erect it on the 25th or 27th of December. In these ethnic areas, the Neu tree is often associated with some traditional festivals of the village. On the 7th of January, the Neu tree will be taken down, which is called Khai Ha day.

Each traditional custom of Tet has its own beautiful meaning, to ward off bad luck and bring good luck. Like the sound of firecrackers on New Year's Eve, the pole symbolizes the erasure of bad luck in the old year and the wish for more good things to come in the new year.

The pole is also known as the Heaven - Earth - Human tree, connecting the Earth with Heaven and the wishes of people. On each pole are hung different mascots or offerings to represent the wishes of people to reach the Gods.

In recent years, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center have also organized reenactments of the custom of erecting a pole (Thuong Tieu ceremony), attracting many tourists and locals to attend.

Because, the pole erected during Tet today is mainly a prayer for good things in the new year. And this is also a beautiful memory of the old customs during the traditional Tet of Vietnamese people.

Dinh Trung - Ngo Thuy Hang

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