Mong ethnic people in Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province celebrate their New Year or Tet one month earlier than Lunar New Year.
Mong’s New Year festival starts from November 26 of lunar calendar and often lasts for 10 days. Everyone wears their best clothes and join in the exciting atmosphere of the New Year.
Mong people in Can Chu Phin commune, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province seems to be busier on the last days of the year to prepare for the New Year. After a hard-working year, the people spend 10 days relaxing.
New Year atmosphere can be felt at the weekend markets. The places are crowded with many sellers and buyers.
The most popular items on this occasion are clothes, pork, spices, sugar and votive offerings.
According to Mong people’s custom houses and gardens are cleaned and decorated beautifully , befor Tet, not only people but also objects can have rest at Tet. Objects such as knives, hoes and shovels can rest after a hard-working year. All the tools are sealed on the last day of the year.
Pork, wine and corn cakes are indispensible at Tet of Mong people. On New Year’s Eve, Mong people offer their ancestors with a pig and a chicken to pray for favorable weather conditions, bumper crop, health and happiness.
On the first day of the New Year, the first thing Mong people do is to visit the coops and pig sty to invite the cattle’s souls to enjoy Tet.
Mong people are hospitable. They think that the more relatives and guests they welcome, the more luck they get for the New Year.
