The custom of lighting bonfires on New Year's Eve.

dot-lua-dem-giao-thua(1).jpg — Some villages in Hai Phong still maintain the custom of lighting bonfires on New Year's Eve.

Every year at midnight on New Year's Eve, the family of Mrs. Duong Thi Toan in Phuong Quat village, Nam An Phu commune, lights a bonfire. This is a custom, a beautiful tradition of Tet that Mrs. Toan's family always maintains.

According to tradition, fire is considered a symbol of life, light, and warmth. New Year's Eve is the moment when heaven and earth harmonize, and yin and yang shift. Therefore, lighting a bonfire signifies warding off bad luck and misfortune from the old year and welcoming new vitality. The red glow of the fire symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and happiness.

"By the flickering firelight, family members chat, share stories about the past year, and discuss plans for the new year. That alone is enough to create a warm and heartfelt atmosphere," Mrs. Toan shared.

For many years now, instead of lighting fires in individual homes at midnight on New Year's Eve, in Hop Hoa hamlet, Van Tue village (Ha Bac commune), people gather around a large bonfire to celebrate the New Year together. Adults and children sit by the fire, eagerly awaiting the moment when heaven and earth unite, exchanging New Year's wishes for health and peace before returning home to celebrate the New Year with their families.

"In the village, the fire is lit from evening until the next morning, not just at midnight on New Year's Eve. On the last evening of the old year, the whole village sits together to chat, creating a warm, intimate, and sacred atmosphere," said Mr. Nguyen Chinh Khanh.

lua-dem-giao-thua(1).jpg — According to popular belief, fire symbolizes life, wealth, prosperity, and happiness.

People believe that if the fire burns brightly and steadily on New Year's Eve, the new year will be prosperous and business will thrive. The ashes are then collected and scattered around the garden with the hope of a bountiful harvest. These customs reflect the simple belief of the rice-farming culture of the Northern Delta in a good beginning.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Dat from My Hao village, Cam Giang commune, shared: "Although many things have changed, some customs are still preserved to remind us of the beautiful culture of our ancestors. The custom of lighting a fire on New Year's Eve is one such example. Although it is no longer widely known, it is still maintained, showing respect for traditional values."

Nowadays, in the fast-paced modern life, the custom of lighting a bonfire on New Year's Eve is no longer common, but in some places, this cultural tradition is still preserved as an indispensable part of the traditional Tet holiday. The New Year's Eve bonfire not only dispels the early spring chill and drives away the bad luck of the old year, but also ignites hope and faith for a new year filled with joy and happiness.

NGUYEN MO

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/tuc-dot-lua-dem-giao-thua-535999.html