Tet holiday rituals of the Nguyen Dynasty court in ancient times

On the morning of February 2 (December 23), the Hue Monuments Conservation Center re-enacted the Thuong Tieu ceremony (also known as Neu raising) at Trieu To Temple and The To Temple.

Raising the Neu is a traditional ritual of the nation and also an important ritual under the Nguyen Dynasty and is a good cultural feature from ancient times.

The custom of erecting a Neu is usually held on the 23rd of December every year, the day the Kitchen Gods return to heaven, with the main meaning of driving away evil spirits and misfortunes of the old year, praying for a good new year.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Hai Trung - Deputy Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, the Neu raising ceremony in the Nguyen Dynasty's royal palace in the past was to announce that all matters in the royal court of the old year were considered to have ended, all administrative work across the country also stopped, and people prepared to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The Nguyen Dynasty's flagpole raising ceremony in the past included rituals such as worship, welcoming the gods, and celebrating the end of the festival.

The Neu raising ceremony is reenacted at Trieu To Temple. Then there is the procession of the Neu from Hien Nhon Gate to Ngo Mon Gate, passing Thai Hoai Palace and stopping at The To Temple.

The procession is recreated including soldiers, trumpets, flags, umbrellas, etc. carrying a pole.

The reenactment of the Neu-raising ceremony has attracted the attention and interest of many tourists.

The pole will be hung until the 7th day of the first lunar month and the royal court will hold a pole lowering ceremony, starting a new working year.

Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/tet-2024/nghi-le-nghi-tet-cua-trieu-dinh-nha-nguyen-thoi-xua-20240202233837890.htm