Festivals in Lao Cai
Celebrating Victory Festival of the Nung Din
Time: The 1st day of the seventh lunar month.
Place: Muong Khuong and Bac Ha Districts, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Earth genie.
Characteristics: Offerings to sacrifice to genies include the food made from banana: banana, banana inflorescense, banana core, 7 – colour steamed glutinous rice which symbolize banana tree and a pair of red chopsticks, folk song singing to tell about the story of fighting invaders.
Com (young green glutinous rice) Festival of the Tay
Time: The 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
Place: At home and the head of village in Bao Yen District, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Thanh Quan.
Characteristics: Contest of pounding com, ceremonies of offering the moon, calling the moon, giao duyen singing, det cui (weaving) dancing, nom singing of the Tay.
Communal House Festival of the Tay
Time: 6th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Gia Village, Bao Yen District, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Mountain Deity.
Characteristics: Worship to the Mountain Deity, black pig offering, con throwing and giao duyen singing.
Going to the cave Festival of the Thai and Tay
Time: 5th to the 8th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Khanh Yen Commune, Van Ban District, Lao Cai Province.
Characteristics: Spring festival, giao duyen singing (boys and girls sing traditional love to express their love for each other), tam tinh singing (boys and girls sing a song that express their sentiment).
Going to the field or Long tong Festival of the Giay
Time: The thin day of the first lunar month.
Place: Ta Van Commune, Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: The Heaven, the Earth, the God of rice.
Characteristics: Praying for good crop festival.
Long Tong Festival
Time: Early in spring, often from the 5th to the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Place: In the village, in the field, near the stream.
Objects of worship: Village gods, Mountain and Stream gods.
Characteristics: Traditional belief and the cult of fecundity.
Participators: The Tay people and other ethnic groups.
Contents: Praying for all the good things, con throwing, xoe dancing.
Tet of dancing of the Dao Do
Time: From the 1st to the 2nd day of the first lunar month.
Place: Ta Phin Commune, Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Deities, ancestors.
Characteristics: Dancing (14 styles of dance), bathing ancestor’s statues.
Thuong Temple Spring Festival
Time: 11th to the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Tran Hung Dao.
Characteristics: A palanquin procession, tug of war contest, wrestling contest, and con throwing, sticks pushing, no (arbalest) shooting.
Worshipping Forest Festival of the Nung
Time: the 29th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Muong Khuong District, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Gods of village and tree.
Characteristics: Worship two ancient trees (Father and Mother trees), and worship people who sacrifice their life for reclaiming the village. Games: contest of leng hao, lan co singing, swinging, wood chess playing.
Xoe Dancing Festival in Ta Chai
Time: The 15th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Ta Chai Commune, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Agriculture Deity (administer of fields and gardens).
Characteristics: Xoe dancing of the Tay.
