Local people perform traditional rituals at the Ky Phuc festival in Phu Xa village, Xuan Lap commune. Photo: Luu Kiet.
According to the book "Vietnamese Customs" by Phan Kế Bính, published by the Literature Publishing House in 2006: "The Kỳ Phúc festival was originally the Kỳ Phúc sacrifice - a popular ritual in the Red River Delta and North Central region. Every year, during the four seasons or two seasons (spring and autumn), there is a week-long grand sacrifice called the Kỳ Phúc sacrifice, meaning praying for the people's peace and safety." The word "Kỳ" is understood as a regular, annual event at a specific time. The word "Phúc" means "good fortune" or "lucky event."
Legend has it that "My Tu Thuong Dang Phuc Than Ly Kim Ngo" was born in the year Quy Mao (1183) and died in the year Binh Dan (1206) in Phuc Ha village (now Phu Xa village, Xuan Lap commune). During the Ly dynasty, he was a talented general who successfully repelled the Lao invaders. After his victory, he refused titles in the court, requesting to return to his hometown. The king agreed and granted him Phuc Ha village – the land where he was born – as his ancestral land. After his death, the king bestowed upon him the title "My Tu Thuong Dang Phuc Than". From then until now, the people of the former Phuc Ha village, now Phu Xa village, Xuan Lap commune, have always remembered the merits of this talented general who repelled foreign invaders and venerate him as the village's guardian deity, bringing his ancestral tablet to be worshipped at the Phu Xa village temple. The Ky Phuc Festival of Phu Xa village, held annually on the 4th day of the second lunar month, is a traditional festival of the village to express gratitude for the merits of the village's tutelary deity, Ly Kim Ngo.
This year's Ky Phuc Festival will be held in a solemn, meaningful, and practical manner. The ceremonial part will be dignified with traditional processions and offerings to the village's guardian deity. The festive part will feature lively folk games and performances, with many unique activities such as cultural and sports exchanges, and traditional games like cockfighting. During the festival days, local people, as well as those who have left their hometowns and tourists, will participate in cultural and artistic activities, expressing their gratitude for the contributions of their ancestors who fought against foreign invaders. Through the festival, people will enhance their patriotism, community solidarity, and neighborly bonds to jointly preserve, protect, and build a more prosperous homeland.
According to Ly Dinh Si, Secretary of the Party Committee of Xuan Lap commune: “The Ky Phuc festival in Phu Xa village plays a special role in the cultural and spiritual life of the local community. The cultural values of the village festival have been passed down from generation to generation. The festival not only aims to commemorate the contributions of our ancestors but also to honor folk cultural values through religious activities.”
Xuan Lap commune is known as a land of "spiritual and talented people," not only as the birthplace of the national hero - Emperor Le Dai Hành and many other wise figures, but also as a land rich in historical traditions with cultural and spiritual landmarks and traditional festivals that are still preserved and promoted by the people. Along with these traditional festivals, the Ky Phuc festival in Phu Xa village is contributing to the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural values, meeting the cultural and spiritual needs of the people in the commune and tourists, aiming to build a unique cultural and spiritual tourism destination for the locality.
Liu Jie
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ve-xuan-lap-du-le-hoi-ky-phuc-281668.htm
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