The Tet Bamboo Pole

Every year, when spring arrives and peach blossoms bloom on the mountain slopes, the Muong people in Thanh Son eagerly prepare for the traditional Tet celebration. In villages such as Yen Lang, Yen Son, Cu Dong, and others, Muong families continue to preserve the tradition of setting up a Tet bamboo pole, a unique cultural practice during the early days of the new year.

The custom of erecting a Tet pole among the Muong people in Thanh Son is a long-standing cultural beauty. Traditionally, from the 25th day of the lunar month, families in Muong villages will choose the most spacious and beautiful spot in front of their homes to plant the Tet pole, with the hope of driving away evil spirits, welcoming their ancestors to celebrate Tet with their descendants, and ushering in good fortune, happiness, and prosperity for the new year. This is an ancient custom that holds deep cultural values, carrying humanistic meanings, and is closely tied to the folk beliefs and spiritual life of the Muong people.

Mr. Ding Van Mot, 84 years old, from Yen Lang commune, shared: “Born and raised in this land, according to the old beliefs, during Tet, each Muong family often hangs 4 clusters of rice on the four corners of the kitchen rafters (or kitchen loft). On the 7th of the first month (the day the Tet pole is taken down), they take it down and pound it to feed the animals, with the wish for smooth farming and successful livestock raising. Additionally, my family still maintains the traditional three-room stilt house, which symbolizes the cultural identity of the Muong people.”

The Muong people in Yen Son commune also maintain the tradition of erecting the Tet pole during the Lunar New Year with the hope for a prosperous and bountiful year. Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee, shared: “Today, despite modern life, the people here still preserve the beautiful tradition passed down from our ancestors of erecting the Tet pole, not only for its beauty but also for its profound humanistic meaning, teaching us to love our homeland, our country, and reminding younger generations of their filial duty to their grandparents and ancestors.”

In Cu Dong commune, in recent years, both native Muong people and Kinh people have adopted this custom from the communes of Yen Lang and Yen Son. Mr. Phung Minh Toi from Chon village in Cu Dong enthusiastically said: “Every Tet, my children go out to find tall, straight, long, and curved bamboo poles to set up the Tet pole, decorated in modern styles. This symbolizes leaving behind the worries of the old year and looking forward to a new year filled with prosperity, abundant harvests, and flourishing life... and also preserving our cultural heritage.”

Additionally, during Tet, the Muong people also have a “chin lun” meal, similar to the Kinh people’s “tat nien” (year-end) meal. This is typically eaten in the evening and symbolizes a family reunion. It is an important and sacred meal intended to say goodbye to the old year and prepare for the new one, with hopes for better things to come.

Today, as life has become more modern, there are many changes and creative decorations added to the Muong Tet pole, such as hanging silk ribbons, lanterns, or LED lights (or flags), celebrating the Party, the New Year, and the country’s progress. The Tet pole should still have its leaves left naturally, and the more beautiful the pole, the more joy and good things will come in the new year. Importantly, even if the pole is tall, it must not have any supporting posts added at the base when erected.

Dinh Tu