Spreading the beauty of Muong culture

With the thought of "how to promote the cultural identity of the nation?", Ms. Ngoc was determined to restore, spread and promote the cultural values ​​of the Muong ethnic group in the area.

Performance of bride, groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen costumes at the program recreating the Muong wedding in "Muong ethnic culture and culinary festival in Tien Xuan commune 2025".

"If you want to build a big house, you must have a strong foundation."

Stemming from the pride of the national cultural capital, Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc (Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Tien Xuan commune) has proactively worked with the officials and members of the Union to organize and promote many forms of propaganda, mobilizing officials, members and people to preserve, maintain and promote the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group, especially ethnic costumes, in Tien Xuan commune.

"Since 2018, I have cherished the idea of ​​restoring Muong ethnic culture. At that time, women in Tien Xuan rarely wore Muong ethnic costumes in events and festivals... But for me, when attending conferences in the village, commune, superiors and major events, I always wore Muong ethnic costumes" - Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc shared.

With the thought that "if you want to build a big house, you have to build a solid foundation", Ms. Ngoc initially actively wore Muong ethnic costumes, moving towards spreading this cultural feature, encouraging other members to wear them. By 2020, the Women's Union of Tien Xuan commune boldly registered and was supported by the Party Committee, the government, organizations, unions of the commune and the people to implement the "Model of skillful mass mobilization in preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group in Tien Xuan commune".

Ms. Ngoc affirmed: Through many generations, the costumes of Muong ethnic women have been passed down to this day. The costume with a tight black skirt, a patterned waistband showing off the chest, a short-sleeved shirt and a bib worn inside, a belt with a chain, a sparkling necklace, a white scarf on the head, the costume has its own nuances through the cutting lines, through the decorative colors, making the already beautiful Muong women even more splendid like newly blooming wild flowers welcoming spring.

The unique feature of the Muong ethnic women's dress is that it is sewn tightly to the body, when worn, it just reaches the waist to show off the natural beauty of women. The skirt waistband is the most beautiful symbol, occupying the most important position in the traditional decorative art of the Muong ethnic group, with rich decorative motifs, showing the ingenuity, sophistication and creativity of women. The upper part of the skirt waistband is called the upper ram, with different patterns that are extremely elaborate and sophisticated, not depending on available models, mainly embroidered with dragons and phoenixes and influenced by the Dong Son bronze drum culture. The lower part is called the lower ram, separated from the upper ram by parallel lines, with zigzag patterns of blue, purple, black and red threads alternating across the body of the skirt. The lower part of the skirt waistband is called the high, the pattern is mainly colored stripes connecting the body with harmonious color motifs. Combined with skirts, shirts, white headscarves, silver necklaces and bracelets, the silver necklace set is an indispensable part of the Muong ethnic women's costume.

The beauty and charm of Muong ethnic women's costumes have really attracted the women of Tien Xuan commune. Up to now, nearly 100% of Tien Xuan commune's women's union members have Muong ethnic costumes and they are worn by the women on anniversaries, holidays, conferences, Tet, weddings...

Ms. Quach Thi Luyen, a member of the Women's Union of Village 6, shared: "Thanks to Ms. Ngoc and the Union officials' propaganda and mobilization, the women members in the village and many older women in the commune have better understood the meaning and charm of wearing Muong ethnic women's costumes. Now, almost all of us have at least one set, to wear on holidays, New Year, weddings, conferences, and art performances... and feel proud because the costumes make us more beautiful and charming...".

Extending Muong cultural festivals

In early 2023, Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc continued to develop the script for the Muong Ethnic Culture and Cuisine Festival in Tien Xuan Commune, thereby promoting the strength of solidarity among women's union members, organizations, unions and people. At the competition, there were folk games such as throwing con, tug of war, crossbow shooting...; performances of Muong ethnic women's costumes; unique cultural and artistic exchanges. In particular, the "Gong Words" singing and dancing performance, Muong gong ensemble, and solidarity dance with the participation of more than 300 women's union members from villages and schools in the commune.

A special feature of the contest that is of particular interest to locals and tourists is the Muong ethnic cultural and culinary booth competition. Here, 8 teams from villages and schools participate, each team brings to the contest from 30 to 70 special dishes, displaying unique items of the Muong ethnic group that are little known, or many seasonal specialties such as stink bugs, wild moths, fried crickets, fried cicadas with betel leaves, wild ant egg rolls, fried crabs with betel leaves, wild vegetables...

Vice Chairman of Tien Xuan Commune People's Committee Nguyen Van Nghia informed: The Muong ethnic cultural and culinary festival in Tien Xuan commune in 2023 was successful beyond expectations, attracting more than 5,000 people from inside and outside the locality to participate and wished that the festival would continue to be held annually. Therefore, the Muong ethnic cultural festival program in Tien Xuan commune was included in the resolution of the commune's people's conference, setting the time to hold it on January 17 and 18 every year. The number of members participating in the "Gong Words" singing and dancing performance, Muong gong ensemble, and solidarity dance in the festival in 2024 - 2025 is up to 500 people".

Mr. Nghia added: The Muong ethnic cultural and culinary festival in Tien Xuan commune not only creates a joyful and exciting atmosphere in the first days of the new spring, but also arouses, preserves and promotes the beauty of cultural life, cuisine and identity of the ethnic group, while introducing typical products and agricultural products of Tien Xuan commune to the community and tourists from all over.

"The model of skillful mass mobilization in preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group in Tien Xuan commune" of the Women's Union of Tien Xuan commune has been compiled in the book "Skillful mass mobilization in developing culture, building elegant and civilized Hanoians" of the City.

In particular, the Muong ethnic cultural and culinary festival in Tien Xuan commune in 2025 will continue to be innovated by Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc and the Women's Union of the commune to revive and preserve the unique cultural features and identities of the Muong ethnic group that have existed since ancient times, such as a special reenactment of the Muong ethnic wedding...

Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc shared: "The song "Lyoc gong" with the line "a tree with strong roots gives rise to thousands of green branches" has become the motivation for me to be determined to spread the cultural values ​​of the Muong ethnic group in the community".

Currently, in Tien Xuan commune, there are 7 gong clubs in 7 residential villages, with a total of 300 members, each village has 2-4 sets of Muong gongs. Tien Xuan gong clubs regularly practice and participate in performances during festivals and conferences organized by the village and commune with many rich performances imbued with national identity.

The efforts of Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc and the Women's Union of Tien Xuan commune have been actively contributing to raising awareness and responsibility, creating strong changes for each cadre, member and people in the commune in effectively implementing the work of preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Muong ethnic group.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/lan-toa-net-dep-van-hoa-muong-700597.html