Muong cultural identity during festivals

The Muong ethnic people’s Spring festivals in mountainous districts are very rich and diverse, including many other types of intangible cultural heritage such as folk performing arts, folk knowledge, and crafts; from the process of performing rituals to offerings to the gods... all are imbued with Muong cultural identity, meeting the spiritual life of the resident community.

Gong performs during the Dinh Khoang Festival, Huong Can commune, Thanh Son district.

The Muong Forest Opening Festival (Dooc Moong, also known as Ti San festival) in Yen Lap district kicks off the year’s events on lunar January 6. The festival is distinguished by the recreation of the hunts of the ancient hunting guilds. It is bustling and imbued with Muong cultural identity, with Vi songs, Moi dances, Senh Tien dances, dam duong, tug of war, swinging, crossbow shooting... creating a joyful, exciting atmosphere, encouraging the spirit of hard work before the new season. This year, Yen Lap district recently hosted to receive the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Social Practices and Beliefs Forest Opening Ceremony of the Muong people.

Thanh Son district is home to numerous Muong cultural festivals, including the Luong Nha communal house festival in Luong Nha commune, the Bo Trong communal house Festival in Yen Luong commune, the Ban Thon communal house festival in Yen Son commune, the Khoang communal house Festival in Huong Can commune, the Ca communal house Festival in Tat Thang commune, the Thach Khoan Communal House Festival in Thach Khoan commune, the Thu Rong communal house Festival in Yen Lang commune, and the Chung Communal House Festival in Giap Lai commune... The majority of the communal homes in the district worship Saint Tan Vien; his mother is Mrs. Dinh Thi Den, and historical characters during the Hung King’s period creating the kingdom.

Khoang communal house Festival, Huong Can commune, Thanh Son district, is held on the full moon day of the first lunar month and honors Tan Vien Son Saint and his mother, Holy Mother Dinh Thi Den. Mr. Phung Duc Hoa stated, "I have been the Khoang communal house Festival celebrant for the past ten years. The celebration follows traditional practices. Following the palanquin procession and sacrificial ceremonies, the celebration features a variety of cultural events and traditional games. Cultural events at the Khoang communal house Festival are filled with Muong cultural identity, inviting a large number of people to participate, creating a joyous and exciting environment, starting a new year with good harvests and productive work, people’s lives will be more prosperous."

Most traditional festivals in areas where many Muong people live retain their distinct cultural features, particularly folk performing arts, folk games, and sports competitions. Folk performing arts of the Muong people are quite diverse and rich, with the dance moves representing harvesting rice, serving rice, providing wine, hunting, capturing stream fish, cultivating cotton, weaving, and appealing for the gods' assistance in harmonizing with heaven and earth, for excellent crops, happy and healthy houses.

Organizing athletic events, folk games, and traditional art performances during the Spring Festival promotes community relationships and helps to preserve the Muong ethnic cultural identity. Through festivals, citizens and visitors may better comprehend the values and genuine meanings of ancient beliefs and traditions, as well as preserve the cultural identity of the Land of Patriarchs, making the Spring celebration more significant.

Nguyen An