The most populous village in the country and the custom of celebrating Tet lasts for a whole month

Diem Pho Village is the ancient name of Ngu Loc Commune, Hau Loc District (Thanh Hoa Province) today. The culture of welcoming spring of the people of Ngu Loc coastal area has many characteristics, the Tet holiday lasts for nearly a month.

A corner of Diem Pho village - Ngu Loc commune seen from above, houses are close together.

The most populous commune in the country

Ngu Loc Commune has long been known as a commune without agricultural land. The smallest residential land area of ​​the entire commune is only 0.46 km2, while the population is more than 18,000 people, so the population density is up to 36,000 people/km2. According to the 2019 census, the population density in Ngu Loc is 15 times higher than Hanoi and 8.25 times higher than Ho Chi Minh City. Even the country with the highest population density in the world, Monaco, only reaches 19,500 people/km2.

The main road through the center of Ngu Loc commune is packed with people on traditional Tet holidays.

Starting from the 28th to the 30th of Tet, walking along the main road through 7 villages of Ngu Loc commune, along both sides are houses close together, along with grocery stores bustling with buyers and sellers. "The commune's market is open until the evening of the 30th of Tet. Starting from the 1st of Tet, there are stores opening for sale. My hometown is crowded with people, so the demand for shopping is also high. Going to the market to see people is fun, not to mention the days of Tet", said Mr. Nguyen Van Binh (38 years old, living in Thang Tay village, Ngu Loc commune).

The residential land area of ​​the whole Ngu Loc commune is 0.46km2, while the population is more than 18,000.

Traffic in Ngu Loc commune is very small and narrow. The main road into the center of Ngu Loc commune is only 7m wide at the widest point and 4m at the narrowest point, not to mention the crossroads in the alleys and lanes, which are about 1-1.5m wide, just enough for a motorbike to pass through.

As a long-time worker, Mr. Dao Van Viet (36 years old, living in Chien Thang village, Ngu Loc commune) said: "I have been working in the South for nearly 10 years now. Due to difficult conditions, I have not returned to my hometown in recent years. This year, my wife, I and our two children booked plane tickets to return home on the 28th of Tet and will probably return after the 15th of January. I have not been home for a long time so I want to take the opportunity to visit relatives, family and friends. I must say, there is no place to celebrate Tet as happily as in the countryside."

The road in the alley is about 1-1.5m wide, just enough for a motorbike to pass through.

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, Vice Chairman of Ngu Loc Commune People's Committee, said that this year, people from many places returned to Ngu Loc to celebrate Tet in greater numbers than in previous years. According to Mr. Quang, the spring culture of people in the coastal area of ​​Ngu Loc has many characteristics compared to other localities, such as the long Tet holiday. "Fishermen believe that even after the full moon of January, Tet is not over. However, officials and civil servants still have to go to work according to the prescribed schedule," Mr. Quang said.

Tet culture is imbued with coastal features

According to Mr. Quang, the characteristics of this coastal area, specializing in fishing and seafood, also mean that the traditional Tet culture here has many differences compared to other localities in the province.

Image of relatives, children and grandchildren going to eat a feast at a family in Ngu Loc on the second day of Tet.

Usually on the first and second days of Tet, people contribute money to make offerings to their paternal and maternal ancestors (local people often call it "eating the offering" at the chosen house to worship their grandparents and ancestors). On these days, children and grandchildren in the family put aside everything to come home and attend, gathering together. Mr. Nguyen Van Duc (87 years old, in Ngu Loc commune) said: "The custom in Ngu Loc commune has been the same for generations. Every first and second day of Tet, children and grandchildren gather to eat the offering. This is when the children and grandchildren gather the most. In the past, the elders had to prepare food and offerings and then bring them on a carrying pole to the family to worship their grandparents and ancestors. But later, they gradually switched to contributing money to cook on the spot."

Another custom of the people of Ngu Loc commune is that on the 2nd and 3rd days of Tet, fishermen choose a day to sail to Ne island to worship, ask for luck at the beginning of the year, and pray for a year of abundant shrimp and fish harvest.

"If talking about Tet customs in Ngu Loc commune, there are many. But usually, the custom of celebrating Tet for a whole month seems to be similar to few other rural areas," Mr. Duc shared./.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/lang-dong-dan-nhat-nuoc-va-tuc-le-an-tet-keo-dai-ca-thang-19224021213022367.htm