| Description |
The Harvest Festival of the San Chay People in Phu Luong district is held annually before or after the Lunar New Year, praying for good crops, budding trees, full granaries, full chicken coops, a prosperous and peaceful life.
On the day of the festival, each family in the area prepares their own offerings at the village communal house, including offerings such as: sticky rice, chicken, pig's feet, pig's head or replaced by cooked pig's tail, intestines; wine, betel and areca nuts...; 1 tray of croissants, bánh lẳng and other cakes typical of the San Chay people. The indispensable items during the ceremony are the accompanying ancient paintings. A complete set of ancient paintings by the shamans includes 28 sheets of paintings, with different images.
The festival takes place at the shrine of the local god, in the communal house. When the offerings are ready, the assigned men carry the tray of offerings into the communal house, led by the head of the village. Before performing the ceremony, the Master Tén (shaman) carefully checks the altars, musical instruments, and props. The Master Tén asks for three drum beats and begins the ceremony. The Master Tén's prayer includes remembering the ancestors' merits, reporting their achievements, and thanking the gods for their protection so that the house is full of rice, the yard is full of chickens, and all people are safe and happy...
The end of the ceremony is when the unique Tac Xinh dance takes place - the highlight of the Harvest Festival. The Tac Xinh dance has a simple rhythm, easy-to-understand language, and dance movements. The musical instruments are just percussion instruments made mainly from bamboo or wood, but they create bustling clappers. In addition, there are also the combined sounds of small drums, cymbals, gongs, leaf trumpets, bells, and clay drums. The Tac Xinh dance includes the following movements: Visiting the road, establishing the village, making decisions, sharpening knives, clearing the fields, checking the stakes, picking, celebrating the harvest or doves... creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere.
At the Harvest Festival, visitors can also enjoy the love songs "Sinh ca", singing Soong Co; throwing con, bamboo dancing, going to the monkey bridge, chess... and participate in folk games taking place throughout the village yard.
The Harvest Festival with many characteristics of the San Chay ethnic group in Phu Luong, has a noble humanity, is a spiritual bridge between heaven and earth and people, expressing the desire to conquer nature of the working people. The Harvest Festival of the San Chay People was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. |
