New Year festival of ethnic minorities
The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai is home to over 20 ethnic minority groups. This article introduces the New Year (Tet) festivals of the Thu Lao, Ha Nhi and Xa Pho ethnic groups.
As a small branch of the Tay-Nung group, the Thu Lao ethnic group has several hundred families who live in the forest along the northern border of Vietnam, which belongs to Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province.
Each spring, Thu Lao people organise a forest-worshipping ceremony to pray to the four deities (Earth, Health, Animal, and Weather) to defend them and provide them with good harvests and good health. In the forest-worshipping ceremomy, Thu Lao sorcerers offer living offerings first, and then cooked offerings.
Ha Nhi people are part of the De Khuong ethnic group. They reside in Y Ty area, in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province.
For Ha Nhi people, Tet is to review their work over the previous year and to relax. On this occasion, Ha Nhi families offer offerings to their ancestors to wish for a peaceful and wealthy new year.
Tet is the most important cultural activity of Ha Nhi people. Rituals are held for three days of Tet in each family and hamlet. All families slaughter pigs.
For Xa Pho families, Tet is a chance for all family members to prepare food to offer to ancestors. Women make glutinous rice cakes and prepare wine, fruits for Tet. They also have to sew new clothes for all members of their families. Men go to the forest to catch mice to offer to the Earth Deity.
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| A Thu Lao sorcerer conducts a ceremony. |
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| After the ceremony, Thu Lao people drink a toast in the forest. |
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| Xa Pho girls sew new clothes for Tet. |
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| Xa Pho women catch fish for Tet. |
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| Ha Nhi people sing folk songs to welcome Tet. |
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| Ha Nhi kids wear new clothes to celebrate Tet. |
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| Ha Nhi people’s lion dance game. |
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| Ha Nhi youngsters skip rope. |
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