Traditional beauty of the Dao Thanh Y people

Remembering one's roots, worshiping and commemorating ancestors, those who founded the village... are long-standing traditional cultural features in major festivals and ceremonies near the traditional New Year of the Dao Thanh Y people in Bang Ca commune (Ha Long city).

According to recorded documents, the Dao Thanh Y people have been present and settled in Bang Ca commune (Ha Long city) for more than 300 years. The families are Ly, Dang, Truong... " The Thanh Y Dao people here have 5 major holidays and festivals in a year (according to the lunar calendar). Two of them take place before and after the traditional New Year: the year-end summary ceremony (December 20) and the main New Year ceremony (February 1). There are the most sacred and solemn rituals, clearly showing the beauty of the custom of remembering one's roots and being grateful to one's ancestors . This is increasingly preserved and promoted, even becoming the material for cultural tourism products " - Mr. Dang Van Manh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Bang Ca commune, shared.

Rituals of worship and gratitude to ancestors and origins are carefully performed by shamans during festivals of the Dao Thanh Y people in Bang Ca commune.

Accordingly, before holding these two major festivals, the shaman - a prestigious person in the Dao Thanh Y community - performs a ceremony at the temple of the 7 main families in Bang Ca and the temple of the female general of the Tran dynasty, said to be Mrs. Tran Thi Chin, a descendant of the Tran dynasty, who contributed to this land. Currently, these temples are all in village 1, Bang Ca commune.

After this ceremony, the shaman can continue to perform the ceremony of worshiping the village's incense bowl, placed at the Thanh Y Dao Cultural Conservation Area. This incense bowl was previously chosen to be placed at the shaman's house. Next, the new rituals are performed by the shaman and his assistants to report and thank the ancestors for the year-end ceremony and to pray for wealth and favorable weather at the year-end ceremony.

To show gratitude to their roots and respect their ancestors, participants in these ceremonies must be carefully selected or must comply with the strict rules and conventions of the village. For the year-end ceremony, families must send the head of the household (male), who has been granted the title (considered an adult), to help with the ceremony. As for the main festival at the beginning of the year, the rules are more open, however, all family members, even if they are far away, are required to return and must wear traditional costumes when participating.

faf — Thanh Y Dao women teach embroidery to the young generation.

One of the most important rituals of the year for the Dao Thanh Y is the worship of Ban Vuong. According to the Dao, all Dao Thanh Y are descendants of Ban Vuong. In addition to worshiping and making offerings at the shaman's house, families also worship Ban Vuong at home. According to custom, in the year-end and year-beginning worships, in addition to chicken, rice, sticky rice..., a cleaned pig with all its organs is indispensable.

To ensure respect, the Dao Thanh Y people also have conventions and taboos. That is, before the village festival, Dao Thanh Y men and boys have been granted titles, and must absolutely not be close to women. Especially for shamans, they must abstain 3 or even 5 days before the worship day. Because the Dao people believe that if they violate this, the rituals and prayers will lose their sacredness.

In addition, the rituals expressing respect and admiration for ancestors are also shown through the care and meticulousness of the most beautiful costumes, with the most delicate and beautiful patterns; the love songs, sports activities, and exquisite culinary arts performed by people at the ceremonies and festivals.

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