The Ha Nhi people in northern mountainous Dien Bien province celebratetheir traditional New Year festival (Tet) on the first dragon day inDecember, which fell on December 11 this year.
On the firstday of Tet, every Ha Nhi family kills a pig, which they have raisedsince the beginning of the year particularly for Tet, as pork is themust-have offering to ancestors. The liver of the pig will be examinedto see whether the new year is a good or bad for the family.
The head of the family will offer a food tray to the ancestors, whichincludes boiled pork, a bowl of rice, a piece of ginger and three cupsof wine.
Known for their hospitality, Ha Nhi people alwaysinvite lots of relatives and friends to their home to enjoy Tet. Aftersumptuous meals, every one will flock to the communal space to joindances and singing late into the night.
The next day, thesound of rice pounding can be heard as early as five o’clock in themorning as people pound steam sticky rice to make Banh day (round ricecake), which is essential to the Ha Nhi’s Tet. The first rice cake willbe offered to the ancestors before every one else has their share. Aftermaking the cakes, people visit each other’s house to extend New Yeargreetings and wishes, while children keep themselves busy with varioustraditional games.
The Ha Nhi is one of a few ethnic groupsin Vietnam who celebrate both the Kinh's traditional Lunar New YearFestival and their own festivals, which are scattered throughout theyear.
According to the General Department of Statistics, theHa Nhi ethnic group in Vietnam has a population of more than 21,700,living mostly in the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien, LaiChau and Lao Cai.-VNA
On the firstday of Tet, every Ha Nhi family kills a pig, which they have raisedsince the beginning of the year particularly for Tet, as pork is themust-have offering to ancestors. The liver of the pig will be examinedto see whether the new year is a good or bad for the family.
The head of the family will offer a food tray to the ancestors, whichincludes boiled pork, a bowl of rice, a piece of ginger and three cupsof wine.
Known for their hospitality, Ha Nhi people alwaysinvite lots of relatives and friends to their home to enjoy Tet. Aftersumptuous meals, every one will flock to the communal space to joindances and singing late into the night.
The next day, thesound of rice pounding can be heard as early as five o’clock in themorning as people pound steam sticky rice to make Banh day (round ricecake), which is essential to the Ha Nhi’s Tet. The first rice cake willbe offered to the ancestors before every one else has their share. Aftermaking the cakes, people visit each other’s house to extend New Yeargreetings and wishes, while children keep themselves busy with varioustraditional games.
The Ha Nhi is one of a few ethnic groupsin Vietnam who celebrate both the Kinh's traditional Lunar New YearFestival and their own festivals, which are scattered throughout theyear.
According to the General Department of Statistics, theHa Nhi ethnic group in Vietnam has a population of more than 21,700,living mostly in the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien, LaiChau and Lao Cai.-VNA
