Mieng Ha village festival

Mieng Ha village festival, in Hoa Son commune, Ung Hoa district, Hanoi, is one of the unique traditional festivals of the Northern Delta region. Held on the 4th day of the first lunar month every year, the festival is not only an opportunity for people to commemorate the merits of the tutelary deities but also an opportunity for the community to bond, maintain and promote traditional cultural values. Mieng Ha village, also known as Son Minh in the past, has a long history with unique legends and customs. Mieng Ha communal house, built in 1783 during the reign of Le Canh Hung, is the place to worship the two tutelary gods Cao Son and Quy Minh - two talented generals of Hung Due Vuong, who had the merit of defeating the Shu army to protect Van Lang country. Mieng Ha village festival, also known as the "firecracker festival", originated from the victory of god Cao Son in protecting the territory of Van Lang country. According to legend, after winning, the god returned to the village to hold a reward festival, thereby forming this traditional festival. The cultural value of the festival is expressed through maintaining ritual rituals, folk games and community activities, reflecting the rich spiritual life of local people. The festival is not only an opportunity to commemorate the gods but also an opportunity for the young generation to understand and appreciate traditional values, contributing to preserving and promoting national cultural identity. Mieng Ha village festival takes place with many diverse activities, combining ceremony and festival, creating a vibrant atmosphere and attracting a large number of participants. Ceremony: Opening the festival with fireworks: At Dragon hour (7-9 am), the festival is opened with fireworks. The host boss will beat three drums and light fireworks, signaling the start of the festival. Procession of palanquin and cotton tree: After the sound of fireworks, the temples from Thach temple, Dong temple and Thuong temple process the palanquin to the village communal house. Each palanquin carries two palanquins, one of which is carrying a cotton tree - an item made from bamboo, wrapped in colored paper, symbolizing fertility and development. Open-air bird's nest offering ceremony: At the hour of the Horse (12-13 o'clock), in front of the communal house door, the monks perform the open-air sacrifice ceremony, praying for favorable weather and good harvests. In this ritual, firecrackers are lit, creating sounds and lights that symbolize thunder and lightning, signaling the first rains of the season. Part of the festival: "Boo Ai" game (robbing and tearing cotton): This is a special activity that takes place at midnight on the last day of the festival. After the thanksgiving ceremony, the lights in the communal house are turned off, six cotton plants of the six armors are tied and dropped from the upper communal house. The young men shouted "Oi Ai" and rushed to steal the cotton tree, took the bamboo pole and brought it back to their temple to offer to the land god. According to belief, the armor that steals the most coins will have good luck in the new year. Folk games and cultural activities: During the festival, many activities such as cheo singing, swinging, and other traditional games are organized, attracting the participation of both adults and children, creating an atmosphere of joy and solidarity in the community. Mieng Ha village festival is not only an opportunity for people to remember and pay tribute to the tutelary deities, but also an opportunity for the community to bond, maintain and promote traditional cultural values. Preserving and organizing annual festivals makes an important contribution to preserving national cultural identity, while educating the young generation about the traditions and history of the homeland.