Viewed from the perspective of the younger generation.

Preserving and promoting traditional cultural values is a crucial task for every ethnic group and locality. Recognizing this, many departments, sectors, and localities have implemented solutions to preserve traditional culture. Among these, teaching and increasing access to traditional culture for the younger generation is receiving attention, thereby gradually fostering a love for traditional culture in the younger generation.

Preserving and promoting traditional cultural values: A perspective from the younger generation. Many young people participated in traditional cultural activities at the Thanh Hoa Province Ethnic Culture Festival 2024.

Thanh Hoa province is home to seven ethnic groups. Each group possesses its own unique traditional cultural identity, from clothing, customs, and beliefs to games, performances, and theatrical shows. These cultural values create a rich and diverse tapestry of ethnic groups, simultaneously becoming the defining element and soul of each. However, in the current trend of integration, these traditional cultural values are facing numerous challenges, from the risk of fading away to being diluted by cultural exchange. This is because these traditional cultural values are not truly appealing to the majority of the younger generation – the future owners of traditional culture.

To preserve and promote traditional cultural values, relevant sectors and localities have focused on implementing many cultural programs and have recorded positive results in the work of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

Attending the 20th Thanh Hoa Provincial Ethnic Culture Festival in 2024, viewers could feel the vitality, diversity, and uniqueness of Thanh Hoa's culture. In the performances and competitions showcasing traditional culture, not only did artisans and performers participate, but many students and young people also actively contributed to the festival's success. This demonstrates that the younger generation in Thanh Hoa is increasingly interested in traditional culture.

Dressed in their traditional ethnic costumes, the young men and women seemed to gain a deeper understanding of traditional cultural values and their responsibility in preserving and promoting them. Le Ky Duyen, a Muong ethnic minority from Lang Chanh, shared: "Through the activities at the ethnic cultural festival, I've learned more about the uniqueness of my ethnic culture. From the costumes to the dances and songs, everything has its own distinct identity, unlike any other ethnic group. I realize that the younger generation like me needs to pay more attention to traditional culture to preserve it for future generations."

Not only through major provincial cultural events, but also through local cultural activities, the younger generation has gradually been drawn to participation. In Ngoc Lac district, local cultural activities attract a large number of participants. From elderly people over 80 years old to young children, everyone immerses themselves in the dances, performances, and the resounding gongs and drums that have existed for generations in the spiritual and cultural life of the Muong people. This has made Ngoc Lac a shining example in the transmission and attraction of traditional culture to the younger generation.

To achieve these results, the Party committees and authorities at all levels in Ngoc Lac district have paid special attention to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values. The district has issued a plan and implemented a project to preserve, promote, and develop the spoken language, written script, costumes, and traditional crafts of ethnic minorities in Thanh Hoa province within the district. At the same time, emphasis has been placed on teaching intangible cultural heritage to the people and students. Every year, artisans such as Ms. Pham Thi Tang, Ms. Pham Thi Huong, and Mr. Pham Vu Vuong regularly visit villages, hamlets, and schools to teach traditional music such as "pon poong," lullabies, and gong playing to the people and students. Luong Anh Tho, a student at Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High School, shared: "After learning about folk culture and traditional culture from the artisans, I have become fascinated with the dances and songs of our ethnic groups. I realize that these are spiritual cultural products preserved by our ancestors for generations, and that we, the younger generation, need to preserve and promote them."

Speaking about students' participation in traditional culture, Mr. Le Van Thao, Vice Principal of Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High School, said: "In fulfilling the tasks of the education sector and the direction of the locality, from 2017 to the present, every year the school has coordinated with the locality to invite artisans to teach traditional culture to the school's students. After each lesson on traditional culture during extracurricular activities, students write essays expressing their feelings and understanding of the content and traditional culture. At the same time, the school has organized many activities for students to practice and perform traditional culture. In May 2024, the school will establish a traditional culture club for students to participate in. Through these activities, love for traditional culture and love for the nation are gradually nurtured in the hearts and minds of the students, helping them to be aware of their responsibility in practicing and preserving traditional culture."

The increasing number of young people who are aware of and practice traditional culture shows that preserving and promoting traditional cultural values through cultural and artistic activities at the local and school levels is an effective approach that needs to be replicated. Furthermore, preserving and promoting traditional cultural values is a long-term task requiring the joint efforts of the entire political system and the community. Therefore, relevant sectors and localities need to continue to promote awareness and mobilize all resources to organize folk cultural and artistic activities and teach traditional culture.

Text and photos: Thùy Linh

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