The first to get up to feed the pigs, chickens or do important work will be the men in the family.
The first cock crowing is also the time when the men of the H'Mong ethnic group get up early at home to do important things in the family.
Unlike the Kinh and many ethnic groups across the country in general and the Northwest in particular, the H'Mong in Son La and some provinces in the Northwest often celebrate Tet at the beginning of the last lunar month. Tet of the Mong people usually takes place in 3 days, but a whole month before that, in the upper and lower villages in the highland communes of Son La, the H'Mong are bustling with the atmosphere to welcome spring.
On the evening of the 29th day of the 11th lunar month, the New Year's Eve arrives.H'Mong ethnic households in Co Ma village, Co Ma commune, Thuan Chau district, gather around the family tray of rice to welcome the new year 2022. Everywhere in the village, there are laughter, voices and wishes for health, peace and good crops.
The first to get up to feed the pigs, chickens or do important work will be the men in the family.
The work of the men on the first day of the New Year is to prepare the fire and slaughter the pigs.
Like other H'Mong ethnic households in Co Ma village, the family of Mr. Va Sai Di, one of the prestigious elders of Co Ma village, is preparing procedures to celebrate the New Year with his family. This year, due to the nature of the family members' work, his family held the family dinner on the 29th day of the 11th lunar month, not on the 30th day of the 11th lunar month like the previous year.
Using his rough hands to split a delicious thick cake baked next to a red fire to invite guests to enjoy, Mr. Di said: "Tonight there are few people, so the family divides two chickens. Tomorrow morning, the first day of the New Year, a pig will be slaughtered to welcome relatives, grandchildren, children and guests in the village to celebrate Tet with their families. Families who celebrate Tet early will notify relatives and friends so that they will come and celebrate Tet with their family the next morning."
Unique custom to celebrate Tet of the H'Mong ethnic people
The work of the men on the first day of the New Year is to prepare the fire and slaughter the pigs.
Continuing to talk about the New Year of the H'Mong people, Mr. Va Sai Di said that "We prepare for the New Year very carefully. Women will complete the embroidery and thread buttons on the new clothes for adults and children to wear during Tet. Men go shopping or slaughter pigs and chickens for family meals.”
Like the H'Mong people in the Northwest, the H'Mong people in Co Ma village are very honest, simple and hospitable. Sitting by the tray of rice to welcome New Year's Eve with his family, Mr. Va Sai Di poured a cup of corn wine with a characteristic light yellow color and picked up a firm piece of black chicken for us to enjoy.
H'Mong girls prepare costumes for Tet.
While receiving guests, Mr. Di told everyone about the good customs and rituals of the H'Mong people. Besides, he also did not forget to instruct the younger generation to study hard to become useful citizens of society.
H'Mong girls prepare costumes for Tet. (Photo source: NDO)
Answering our question, "Why are the men of the H'mong ethnic group the first to get up on the first day of the New Year?" Mr. Va Sai Di said, "We think that if any family celebrates Tet on the 27th, 28th, 29th or 30th of the 11th lunar month, the next day will be the first day of the New Year. It is not necessary to celebrate Tet on the evening of the 30th day of the 11th lunar month. Therefore, when the first rooster crowing resounds in the morning of the next day, it will also mark the first moments of the new year and we will consider it the first day of the New Year .
In particular, on this day, the H'Mong man will be the first to get up from bed in the family to do all the work for the woman. The Hmong believe that men are the breadwinners of the family, so everything in the family is responsible for keeping the tradition for the whole year. Not only that, on the morning of the first day of Tet, after waiting for the men in the family to get up early to cook, feed the pigs and chickens, etc., the H'Mong woman also wakes up later to do smaller things such as cleaning the house to welcome relatives to celebrate the new year”./.