At 4 a.m., after the bundles of votive paper have been cut, Mr. Thào Xuân Lao, from Nàng Cảng village, Si Ma Cai border commune, Lào Cai province, begins sweeping away soot – one of the indispensable traditional customs during the Hmong New Year.
With the belief that he would ward off bad luck from the old year and welcome joy and prosperity in the new year, Mr. Lao meticulously swept each room, including the kitchen, starting from the direction of the sunrise and ending towards the direction of the sunset.
"Using three bamboo sticks to sweep away soot from the door is to welcome ancestors back for Tet (Lunar New Year), to protect the family, and to bless the family with a prosperous new year. It also helps to increase the size of buffalo, cattle, pigs, and chickens quickly..." - Mr. Thao Xuan Lao shared.
After the house was cleaned, Mr. Thào Xuân Lao began pasting paper on the ancestral altar and house pillars. Chicken is the offering used to invite ancestors to celebrate Tet with the family on the morning of the 29th of Tet.
The radiant smiles on every face, as they prepare the reunion meal together, not only bring joy and happiness but also demonstrate the spirit of family togetherness and a wish for a new year filled with good fortune.
Thào Vảng Bình happily shared: "Today, the 29th of the 12th lunar month, my family has prepared a lavish meal with dishes like stir-fried chicken and pork, fish in tomato sauce... to celebrate Tet. After a year of working far away, being able to eat with my family makes me very happy and excited. I wish my family good health and smooth sailing in everything they do in the new year."
Besides gathering around the family dinner table, young people from the highlands, like Thào Páo Mỷ, who live far from home, also help their parents make sticky rice cakes when they return for Tet – a traditional cake that is indispensable during the Hmong New Year.
The Lunar New Year in the Mong village of Nang Cang is filled with joy, laughter, and enthusiastic cheers from traditional folk games such as "fighting swallows" and "fighting tug-of-war." The rhythm of life in the highlands confirms that the happiness index of the people in the year is directly proportional to the socio-economic development.
Spring has arrived in the highlands of Nang Cang. In the villages, glimpses of wild peach blossoms burst into bloom, blending with the red of the national flag fluttering against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, and the warm, peaceful atmosphere of the houses.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/tet-ve-tren-ban-mong-nang-cang-post893868.html
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