Special Tet pole raising ceremony at Lan Vien Co Tich
On the morning of December 28, despite the cold and rainy weather, many friends and relatives of Professor, Doctor Thai Kim Lan still gathered at the Lan Vien Co Tich garden house, which is also the Huong River Ancient Ceramic Museum (Kim Long ward, Phu Xuan district, Hue city) to attend the New Year's pole-raising ceremony with the homeowner.
Professor Kim Lan said that she has maintained the organization of the pole-raising ceremony on the occasion of Lunar New Year for the past 4 years. During the pole-raising ceremony, in addition to the worshiping ceremony, the host and distinguished guests also participate in poetry, literature, spring couplets, and enjoy tea and cakes.
The pole-raising ceremony to welcome the Lunar New Year 2025 at Lan Vien Co Tich took place in the pouring rain (Photo: Vi Thao).
This year's pole-raising ceremony also has special significance for the female Professor as her children who are living and working abroad are returning to Hue to celebrate Tet with their mother.
"The image of the pole has been deeply imprinted in my memory since childhood. That's why, when I was studying and working abroad, I wished to return home to erect the pole to celebrate Tet in my garden, where I grew my vegetables," Ms. Lan shared.
Professor Thai Kim Lan said that the pole-raising ceremony, also known as Thuong Tieu, is an ancient custom, originating from the lifestyle associated with the agricultural civilization of the Vietnamese people.
When Tet comes, Vietnamese people will cut down the tallest bamboo tree in the garden to make a pole, erected at communal houses, village pagodas, alleys, and in front of their houses. The image of the pole reaching high is like a good news that Tet has come, spring has come, the cold has passed, the sun is warm and hundreds of flowers are blooming.
"The pole was probably the first spring greeting card before Vietnamese people had paper and pen Tet greeting cards. It was the most vivid greeting card. On the way back to our hometown, from afar we saw the poles swaying in the spring wind with the bustling sound of bells tied to bamboo tops. That scene was so peaceful and leisurely during the Tet holiday," the female professor explained.
Traditional beauty of Vietnamese people
Professor, Dr. Thai Kim Lan believes that erecting a pole also has another profound meaning, touching the spiritual. According to legend, in the old days in Vietnamese villages, evil spirits often came to harass and rob the products. One time, Buddha helped, drove away the evil spirits and gave his robe to the villagers, telling them to hang it on a bamboo tree. When the demons saw the Buddha's robe, they were afraid and left.
"From then on, the custom of erecting the pole began with the people's wish to live in peace, stability and happiness," Professor Thai Kim Lan shared.
The Tet pole raising ceremony has been maintained by Professor Thai Kim Lan for many years (Photo courtesy of Vi Thao).
The female professor added that when erecting the pole, people often perform rituals between heaven and earth to pray for peace and prosperity for every family and every person. In addition, the pole erector can write parallel sentences or poems on the flagpole, hang them on the pole before erecting with the belief that they will be protected, safe and live happily.
In addition, the pole is also a symbol of luck, so everyone in the family, friends, and relatives will erect the pole, carve the pole and the flagpole together. The pole is a symbol of spring, starting a new year with an optimistic and happy spirit.
Nowadays, the custom of erecting the Tet pole is also maintained by people in many villages in Hue city. Especially at Hue Imperial City, the Nguyen Dynasty's pole erection ceremony has been restored, with full rituals. This ceremony takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month every year, to promote and attract tourists to visit the heritage.
Cultural researcher Nguyen Xuan Hoa, former Director of the Department of Culture and Information of Thua Thien Hue province, said that the Tet pole-raising ceremony in the Hue Royal Palace originated from the northern provinces. When performing the ceremony, banh chung is required, while the Hue people's tradition is banh tet.
Professor, Dr. Thai Kim Lan also believes that the custom of erecting a pole to celebrate Tet does not come from the Nguyen Dynasty or the royal class, but from the people.
Professor, Dr. Thai Kim Lan is the owner of the Huong River Ancient Ceramic Museum with more than 5,000 artifacts (Photo: Vi Thao).
According to Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City, the custom of erecting a pole on Tet holiday is a beautiful traditional feature of the Vietnamese people. Over the years, Professor, Dr. Thai Kim Lan has been one of the people who has made many contributions to preserving and conserving the traditional cultural values of Hue in particular and Vietnam in general.
Mr. Hai said that in 2025, Hue will officially become a centrally-governed city, the first national heritage city in Vietnam. The viewpoint of the Hue city government is to continue to preserve and promote the value of Hue's heritage and culture. Mr. Hai called on everyone to join hands to build and affirm the position of Hue, a land rich in cultural traditions.
Professor, Doctor of Philosophy Thai Kim Lan (84 years old) was born and raised in Kim Long, in a prestigious family of ancient Hue. She went to Germany to study philosophy at Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich from 1965, and in 1976 defended her thesis and graduated with a doctorate.
She lived and worked in Munich until 2007 as a lecturer in comparative philosophy.
In 2022, Professor Thai Kim Lan established the Perfume River Ancient Ceramic Museum, located in the Lan Vien Co Tich garden house, at 120 Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, Phu Xuan district, Hue city. This is where more than 5,000 artifacts are preserved, most of which are ancient ceramics salvaged from the bottom of the Perfume River, dating from many ages, from Cham ceramics, Sa Huynh ceramics, Prehistoric, Early Historical, Early Le ceramics...
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