The fruit is still in springtime.

Every spring, as the drums of the festival resound through the mountains and forests, the remaining ball is tossed high, marking the beginning of lively celebrations. Through generations, the ball-tossing game has always been present in the lives of the people of the highlands of Thai Nguyen as a ritual to express hopes for a bountiful harvest and happiness.

The colorful fruits are meticulously sewn together, conveying wishes for a bountiful and prosperous harvest during the spring festival.

No one knows exactly when the game of throwing the ball originated, but it's always present at festivals, especially during the Lunar New Year. Among countless other activities, throwing the ball is always the most anticipated and attracts the most participants.

When talking about the origins of the game of throwing the ball, the elders in the Tay ethnic villages still recount an ancient story: Once upon a time, there was a young man named Pia who was an orphan. His family was poor, and Pia didn't have nice clothes to wear to the festival. He looked at his friends with longing. Feeling sad, he broke off a root with a tuber still attached, spun it around vigorously, and tossed it into the air. The root flew higher and higher, soaring above nine layers of clouds to the heavens. A fairy, seeing Pia playing so well, flew down and joined him in throwing. Engrossed in the game, she didn't return to heaven when night fell, but stayed with the orphan. From then on, the two became husband and wife...

Seeing how poor Pia, despite his small stature, managed to win the hand of a beautiful fairy, young men and women from near and far imitated him. They cut pieces of colored cloth into small, sewn-together pieces to form pretty little bags, filled them with cotton or rice grains until they swelled, and then sewed them shut. They attached strings with colorful tassels in green, red, and other colors so that the fairies in heaven would see them and come down to play. From then on, throwing the ball became a game played by young men, fairies, and the Tay people.

Over time, every Lunar New Year, the game of throwing the ball has become an indispensable part of the Lồng Tồng Festival of the highland people. To organize the ball-throwing game at festivals, one of the tasks that must be prepared early is gathering the materials and stitching the ball. This is also what makes the game so attractive, because at the spring festival, everyone is eager to be lucky enough to "catch" the ball and take it home.

Ms. Hoang Thi Dien, from Phuc Loc commune, is one of the skilled artisans. Every spring, she busily sews traditional Vietnamese balls (likely a name or symbol) in preparation for the main festival, starting a month in advance. Ms. Hoang Thi Dien shared: "In recent years, I've made nearly a hundred balls for the spring festival. Usually, people who buy in large quantities place orders in advance. Besides, I also make them for my children and grandchildren to take to the festival. Each ball doesn't cost much, only about 15-20 thousand dong, but it's still fun and enjoyable. I even teach my daughter how to sew them."

The simple "con" balls usually have only about 4-8 segments, but skilled artisans can create balls with 12 segments in 12 different colors. Inside, the balls can be filled with sand, rice, sesame seeds, mustard seeds, cotton seeds, and even other seeds... symbolizing the hope for spring to blossom, bloom, and bear fruit.

To decorate the ball, the women also sew on tassels of green, red, purple, and yellow fabric... Thanks to this, the ball becomes more dazzling like fresh flowers against the blue sky, and also helps to guide the ball when thrown.

The ball has four corners symbolizing the four cardinal directions: East, West, South, and North. The string with its tassels represents sunbeams and raindrops, expressing the wish for a prosperous new year with favorable weather. The ball soaring high in the sky symbolizes the intermingling of heaven and earth.

Tay women meticulously sew each stitch to perfect the traditional ball they prepare for the Lồng Tồng Festival at the beginning of the year.

While the women are responsible for the ball-throwing ritual, erecting the pole is the men's job. The pole, or ceremonial pole, is carefully selected from sturdy bamboo or apricot trees, approximately 20-30 meters tall. The top of the pole is bent into a circle and covered with red paper, allowing participants to throw the ball into the bullseye. Erecting the pole requires the help and coordination of many people, thus demonstrating the spirit of unity and camaraderie among the young men of the region.

The pole is also erected in a large open space so that festival-goers can participate and observe. The pole, proudly soaring high against the clear blue sky, always presents a significant challenge for the players. Hitting the target requires both skill and luck. When throwing the ball, the player holds it, swings it over their shoulder, and then tosses it clockwise before throwing it upwards. The goal is to hit the bullseye on the bamboo pole. The force of the swing depends on the height of the pole and the wind direction; if the wind is favorable, the ball flies higher and is more likely to hit the target.

Those lucky enough to throw the ball through the bullseye experience multiplied joy. The whole group cheers excitedly, welcoming the start of a new year filled with success and happiness. After the opening drumbeat, people eagerly gather in the courtyard. Throwers and catchers watch the ball flutter high in the air, flying back and forth like dancing phoenixes and soaring dragons, creating a joyful and vibrant springtime dance.

In the early days of the new year, in Thai Nguyen province, people joyfully celebrate the spring festival, tossing balls of hope into the air. These balls fly high, carrying away the joys and sorrows of the old year, ushering in the spring of fruit trees, and bringing happiness and prosperity to every village.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202602/qua-con-ngay-xuan-d8b56de/