The Day of the Shadows

After the Lunar New Year, many villages in Nghe An province enter the festival season. In Thuong Yen village (Quynh Yen commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province), there is the Yen Lao festival, which embodies the beautiful principle of remembering one's roots and respecting the elderly for longevity.

"Yen Lao" means a celebratory feast for the elderly, an occasion for children and grandchildren to celebrate the longevity and show filial piety to their grandparents and parents. According to the elders in the village, in the past, Thuong Yen village used to hold the Yen Lao festival every year on the 6th day of the first lunar month. Initially, the festival took place at the village communal house, then moved to the cooperative's warehouse yard, and now it is held in the cultural center's yard. Later, the festival was maintained once a year at the hamlet level and once every five years at the commune level.

This year, the 6th day of the first lunar month coincides with the founding day of the Communist Party of Vietnam on February 3rd, so the Elderly Retreat has been moved to February 6th (the 9th day of the first lunar month). Held every five years, after the Lunar New Year celebrations, families with elderly grandparents and parents eagerly await the Elderly Retreat. It truly is a festival not just for each family, but for the entire community. Many elderly people are carefully dressed in traditional ao dai (long dresses) and kept in their wardrobes, along with an outer jacket to protect them from the early spring chill, which, though slight, can affect their health.

In the early afternoon, from the alleys and lanes, children and grandchildren eagerly led their grandparents and parents to the village cultural center. Greetings and laughter filled the air along the way. It was easy to spot the joyful eyes and smiles of the elderly as they walked alongside their children and grandchildren on such a special day. Young and old walked side-by-side, creating a warm and affectionate image. That image reminded me of my childhood, when I used to lead my grandmother in the same way. Now that my grandmother is gone, seeing these elderly people excitedly attending the Elderly Festival, my heart is filled with emotion, as if I suddenly see her image somewhere nearby.

At the village cultural center, the elderly were arranged in rows of tables, divided by age group. Notably, there was a separate table reserved for the oldest residents, bearing the sign "Chief," with two people holding parasols (or umbrellas) on either side. My mother recounted that, during the feudal era, due to the prevailing patriarchal ideology, this table was reserved only for the oldest male. Later, that ideology gradually disappeared, and elderly women also occupied the same table. Nevertheless, the title "Chief" was still bestowed upon the oldest male resident of the village. This year, over 700 elderly people participated in the Elderly Festival, including three centenarians: Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phon (105 years old, Hamlet 6); Mrs. Hoang Thi That (104 years old, Hamlet 6); and Mrs. Ho Thi That (102 years old, Hamlet 9). The recipient of the "Master Leader" title is Mr. Ho Xuan Lan, 95 years old, from Hamlet 4.

Ms. Ho Xuan Lan (95 years old) received the title of "Chief Steward" at this year's Elderly Festival.

At the birthday celebration, the elderly listen to their children and grandchildren express their respect through songs, heartfelt wishes, and hopes for a happy and long life surrounded by their descendants. They chat while enjoying tea, snacks, and sweets. Many, out of love for their children and grandchildren, even put some sweets in their bags as gifts to take home. As a child, I also received such gifts from my grandmother after the festival ended. And that was undoubtedly the sweetest treat of my childhood!

Every tree has roots, every river has a source. This seems to be a long-standing tradition of the Vietnamese people. The Elderly Worship Festival is an opportunity for descendants to express this tradition and send their gratitude to the elders in their lives.

HO SON