(CLO) Many items are decorated by the Muong people (Hoa Binh) on the New Year's pole with the purpose of symbolizing good luck, and are erected at various entrances in the house to protect the family and pray for good fortune and peace in the new year.
This morning, January 18th, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology hosted a Traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) experience, introducing the "Happy Spring Festival 2025: The Cultural Flavors of the Muong People in Hoa Binh " program. The event attracted many locals and international tourists who came to visit and experience Vietnamese culture.
According to the customs of the Muong people, before erecting the ceremonial pole, people perform rituals to worship the local deities, the earth god, and their ancestors, and only then do they proceed with the pole erection ceremony.
Among the activities, the most popular and memorable was watching the Muong people erect the New Year's pole before the 2025 Lunar New Year. This is an ancient religious custom of the Muong ethnic group (Hoa Binh province).
According to folklore researcher Bui Thanh Binh, Director of the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum, the ceremonial pole (cay neu) holds sacred significance for the Muong people. Every year, during the traditional Lunar New Year, the Muong people traditionally erect a ceremonial pole.
Typically, in the days leading up to Tet, from the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month onwards, families choose a day and time to obtain a tree to erect the New Year's pole, signaling the approaching Tet holiday and to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, praying for a peaceful new year.
According to the customs of the Muong people, before erecting the ceremonial pole, people perform rituals to worship the local deities, the earth god, and their ancestors, and only then do they proceed with the pole erection ceremony.
After the ceremony of erecting the ceremonial pole, Mr. Bich Du from Hoa Binh city introduced: the offering tray to heaven and earth includes a plate of boiled pork. The Muong people don't care about the size or quantity of the offering tray; what matters is that there must be enough pieces of pork on the offering tray, regardless of how many parts the pig has... Besides that, there is also rice, soup, and a vegetarian offering tray.
The shaman performs a ritual before erecting the ceremonial pole according to custom.
In particular, the Muong people's ceremonial pole is decorated with various shapes, sizes, and patterns of balls, symbolizing good fortune and luck.
"The tradition of the Muong people is to erect a large New Year's pole at the main entrance and smaller poles at other entrances, places where livestock is kept, or where tools for labor, production, and animal husbandry are stored, with the meaning that all things are animistic, and that objects and animals celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with humans," Mr. Bui Thanh Binh added.
Besides the experience of erecting the ceremonial pole, visitors can also explore the museum space and learn about the unique features of Muong culture such as gongs, drumming, the history of the Muong people, and traditional cuisine .
The Muong people's ceremonial pole is decorated with various shapes, sizes, and patterns of balls, symbolizing good fortune and luck.
Visitors can also experience many other unique activities at the "Traditional Tet Experience" program.
Experience the traditional Vietnamese activity of wrapping banh chung (traditional rice cakes).
Locals and tourists alike can experience the traditional Vietnamese method of making banh chung (rice cakes).
Many other unique cultural activities took place this morning at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, attracting many locals and international tourists.
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nguoi-muong-hoa-binh-dung-cay-neu-don-tet-nguyen-dan-2025-nhu-the-nao-post330981.html
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