Festivals are a living museum of a specific culture or country that has been transmitted generation after generation for many centuries.
Vietnam Luna New Year festival in a Communal House of local village
The formation and meaning of traditional festivals
The festival is a kind of traditional cultural activity, the spirit of the people that was formed and developed in development process of history. The Vietnamese people have a tradition of “When you eat a fruit, think of the man who planted the tree” over thousand years. The festival is an expression of that precious tradition, honoring the sacred images, is identified as the “God” – the real person in the nation’s history or legend. Iconic gods is convergence of human sublime qualities. It is the hero who fought again invaders; explored new lands, created crafts; coped with natural disasters and the beast; found out the way to save human life; legendary man dominated life on earth, helped people to find out the good direction and to make their life happier… Festival created to commemorate the gods merit for community and country.
The festival is a chance for person to memorize the source of country, source of family. It has a sacred meaning in each person’s mind.
Folk game “Human Chess” in a traditional festval
The festival expresses the strength of community in the local or the nation. They worship the same gods. They become a unity to overcome hardship, get a prosperous and happy life.
The festival is also demand for creating and enjoying the value of material and spiritual culture of all population classes; is a form of education, transfer to the next generation, inherit and develop the traditional moral values of the nation by their own way, combining elements of spirituality and entertainment and games…
The festival is a chance for person to be released, expressing sorrow and anxiety to the god. They pray god for help and protect to overcome challenges and moving forward a brighter future.
Festival time
Festival usually held in Vietnam in three months of early spring, when people are idle and free. Warm weather of spring and cool weather of autumn are favorable for the festival. These are two basic factors creating comforts and funs for people attending festivals.
Annual Hung King festival celebrated in spring time
The process of the festival
The local festivals were hold following three steps:
Preparation: Festival Preparation is divided into two stages. The stage prepare for the days before coming festival and the next festival season. When the festival is coming, people check again the offering items, costumes, sweeping, open monument, statue bathing ceremony and change costume and hat for the god. Preparing for the next festival season will be carried out immediately after the previous one finish. All preparations have been assigned and appointed right after that and all have been ready for the next festival.
In festival time: many activities taking place during the festival, which are offering ritual, the procession, incense offering, games. This is the whole of the main activities which have significant meaning in festival. The festival attracts many visitors in several days or a full day of the festival.
The end of the festival: The organizers do thanksgiving and close the monument.
1 Comment
Luckily, We arrived in Vietnam in early spring last year. And We had seen many traditional festival of Vietnamese people. How wonderful!