The villagers of Dong Bong ask for fire to welcome the new year.

At the moment of transition from the old year to the new, the village courtyard in Tong Son commune glows brightly with another flame - the flame of faith and hope for good fortune at the beginning of the year.

Every year, on New Year's Eve, the people of Dong Bong village (Tong Son commune, Thanh Hoa province) gather in front of the ancient communal house to participate in the fire-carrying ceremony and ask for blessings for the new year. The custom of asking for fire, also known as "burning the communal house," is not only a long-standing tradition but has become an indispensable spiritual rhythm in the community life here.

According to the elders, the custom of asking for fire has existed since ancient times, passed down through many generations as a reminder of their origins. Before Tet (Lunar New Year), the young men of the village gather to build a nearly 9-meter-long dragon effigy using dry branches, straw, and other flammable materials. The dragon – a symbol of spirituality and prosperity – sits majestically in the village courtyard, awaiting the moment to transform into light.

Before the New Year's Eve countdown, the procession performs a solemn ceremony, carrying fire from the temple in the mountains to the village communal house. The flame is cherished like a treasure, passing through familiar streets amidst the reverence of the people.

As the clock struck the most sacred moment of the new year, fire was lit on the dragon's body. In an instant, the entire temple courtyard lit up. The dragon blazed, writhing in the red-orange flames, as if awakening the entire countryside to spring.

Hundreds of villagers stood in a circle around the bonfire. In their hands were small torches and dried bamboo branches they had prepared. Everyone was waiting for the moment to touch the sacred fire and bring some warmth home.

That flame will be used to light the kitchen fire at the beginning of the year, to burn incense at the ancestral altar, or simply kept as a symbol of a prosperous start. For the people of Dong Bong, "fire blessings" are not just red embers, but also a wish for a peaceful, harmonious year and a bountiful harvest.

In the flickering light, everyone's face shone with joy. Regardless of age, from elderly people with gray hair to children accompanying their parents to ask for fire, all shared the same wish: a new year filled with good fortune and a warm, harmonious family.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, where many customs are gradually fading, the fire-seeking ritual at Bong Cave remains perfectly preserved. Without fanfare, ostentation, or elaborate theatricality, the ceremony unfolds simply yet solemnly, allowing one to clearly feel the connection between the past and the present.

In the moment the dragon bursts into flames in the village square, it's not just a New Year's ritual. It's a way for a community to preserve its identity, passing on to future generations its belief in light, in new beginnings, and in the never-extinguishing flame in the villagers' hearts.

Hoang Dong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nguoi-lang-dong-bong-xin-lua-don-nam-moi-278757.htm