Trung Kinh Thuong communal house festival

Trung Kinh Thuong communal house festival Time: February 10 - 17 of the lunar calendar (February 14 is the main festival) Location:  Trung Kinh Thuong communal house, Trung Hoa ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi City. Trung Kinh Thuong communal house is located in the middle of Trung Kinh Thuong village, worshiping the Great King Hung Cong. He belongs to the lineage of Ton That Hung Vuong, a general of Hung Trieu, governing O Chau. He was born on February 14, the year of Dinh Mui, and was an intelligent man, perfect in literature and martial arts. When his country was invaded by the enemy, he was ordered by the king to send troops to defend. He passed through Kinh Chu village and was warmly welcomed by the people and 142 more village boys asked to join the army to fight the enemy. Seeing that the terrain was favorable and the people were kind, he ordered the army and people to set up a camp. The enemy came from the North, King Hung gave orders to Prince Tan Vien and he led the army to fight the enemy, defeating the enemy in just one battle. King Hung rewarded him with the title Bao Quoc Marquis, established a palace in Kinh Chu land, and gave Kinh Chu village the additional name Ho Nhi Huong to recognize his merits to the country. A few years later, the enemy invaded again, and the King again ordered Prince Tan Vien to send troops to fight the enemy. The victorious battle earned the seal of the enemy general, and the king named Hung Cong Bao Quoc Cong. Returning to Hoan Chau on October 12, Hung Cong suddenly fell ill and passed away. King Hung heard the news and was extremely sorry. He ordered the court to send people to perform the sacrificial ceremony, give him hats and robes to worship, crowned him the Great King, and ordered the people to build a temple at the military post called Toi Linh Tu and worship him forever. Later, people built communal houses in the village. In addition, there are 17 places in the country that have temples to worship him. Later dynasties gave him 14 ordinations and repaired the communal house for people to worship. The festival is held for 7 days with many elaborate rituals imbued with the traditional colors of the nation and with the participation of many neighboring villages. February 10: In the morning, perform the Moc Duc and Bao Sai ceremonies, followed by the Saint's vestment ceremony. In the afternoon, there are cultural performances and games. February 11: In the morning, perform the writing ceremony. In the afternoon, the funeral ceremony was followed by the group going to burn incense at the Martyrs' Memorial. February 12: In the morning, the entrance ceremony is held, followed by the people attending the holy ceremony and performing arts. February 13: Incense offering ceremony of neighboring villages on Saint's Day. February 14: The main festival day takes place from 3:00 a.m. with the wedding ceremony of the village elders in a solemn atmosphere. Clans and families celebrate Holy Mass. Next is the incense offering ceremony performed by the group of female sacrifices. The afternoon took place with incense offerings to the Holy Mass by people and visitors from near and far, as well as games and cultural performances of the village. February 15: In the morning, it begins with the offering ceremony performed by the village's sacrifice team, then time is spent for the people in the village and visitors to celebrate the Saint's Day. March 16: In the morning, this is the last day of the festival, with the ceremony of taking off clothes and lowering the festival flag performed by the elders in the male and female altar teams, with the participation of villagers and guests from neighboring villages, ending the village's festival days. During the holiday, there are cultural performances by villagers and games organized by the village such as Quan Ho singing, Chinese chess competition, cockfighting...