Connecting cultural threads

One day in April, we visited Lung Vai village, Lung Vai commune, Muong Khuong district. Amidst the peaceful and tranquil scenery of the countryside, under the eaves of the houses, the women and mothers happily chatted and laughed, their hands nimbly moving needles across colorful fabrics.

Lung Vai village is home to a large population, the majority of whom are Giay people. Since its establishment, the cultural identity of the Giay ethnic community has remained intact, evident in every home and in every individual and collective activity of the village and commune. A significant contribution to this is the role of Giay women, who proudly and diligently preserve the traditional clothing of their ethnic group.

In the story, Ms. Vuong Thi Lai recounts that she currently owns more than a dozen traditional Giay ethnic costumes that she uses regularly for festivals, daily life, and work. Each costume is sewn in bright colors such as lime green, sky blue, pink, and purple, and what's special is that she cuts and sews them entirely by hand. Ms. Lai is also proud that the Giay ethnic costumes of all her family members, from adults to children, have been made by her own hands over the years. Seeing the joy of her whole family whenever they wear a new outfit is happiness for Ms. Lai.

Adding to the conversation, Ms. Luc Thi Liem, while diligently working with her needle and thread, recounted: "Giay women learn to sew and embroider from a young age, watching their grandmothers and mothers and then learning. The tradition is passed down from generation to generation, and this cultural aspect of traditional clothing has remained intact to this day. Having worn traditional ethnic clothing her whole life, her hands are inseparable from the needle and embroidery, so she feels a sense of loss if she doesn't sew or embroider for even a few days."

During their free time between farming seasons, Giáy women in the village take advantage of the opportunity to sew and embroider traditional clothing. Completing a handcrafted outfit takes about 5 days if done continuously. Currently, in addition to making clothing for their families, some women in the village also produce finished products to sell at local markets for 250,000 VND per shirt and 450,000 VND per set.

Continuing our story about women's involvement in preserving cultural identity, we had the opportunity to meet women in Tan Lap village, Phu Nhuan commune, Bao Thang district. Currently, the village has an intergenerational club with 30 members, including 25 Tay ethnic women of various ages.

At the recent Phu Nhuan Commune's Rice Planting Festival, the women practiced and presented a unique performance of the Tinh lute dance. Amidst the resonant sounds of the lute, the women's hands and feet moved rhythmically, swaying to the gentle music. For generations, Tan Lap has been known as a land rich in the cultural identity of the Tay ethnic group.

The women here are the quiet, persistent, and enduring keepers of the cultural flame over the years. Each month, they regularly participate in two practice sessions at the village cultural center. When there are village or commune events, the number of practice sessions increases, and the courtyard of the cultural center is always brightly lit and filled with songs and melodies. The Then folk songs thus continue through the years, echoing across the tea hills during harvest season, and in conversations celebrating new homes and the new spring.

In each story, in each cultural region, we meet countless members and women who have been tirelessly "keeping the flame" of culture alive in their communities. They are the key players in preserving, absorbing, promoting, and disseminating the cultural values ​​of the nation.

With their sensitive souls, refined sensibilities, skillful hands, and especially their pride and love for their national culture, the women of Lao Cai today are continuing to connect the age-old cultural threads, writing a new chapter in the cultural story during this era of integration.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ket-noi-soi-day-van-hoa-post382904.html