The pole lowering ceremony at Hue Royal Palace

Thua Thien - Hue Hue Monuments Conservation Center held a flagpole lowering ceremony at Trieu To Temple and The To Temple, where Nguyen Dynasty lords and kings were worshiped, on the morning of the 7th day of Tet.

In a blue ao dai and turban, Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, presided over the flag-lowering ceremony with the participation of soldiers and a royal music team following the rituals of the ancient Nguyen Dynasty.

The offerings for the pole lowering ceremony include incense, flowers, candles, a tray of five fruits, a tray of raspberries, roast pig, areca nuts and betel, and votive paper. After more than 30 minutes of performing the rituals, the pole is lowered, the seal is taken out of the box, marking the end of the Giap Thin Tet holiday and the beginning of the new working day.

In traditional costumes and traditional long dresses, staff of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center perform the pole lowering ceremony at the Hue Royal Palace. Photo: Vo Thanh — In traditional costumes and traditional long dresses, staff of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center perform the pole lowering ceremony at the Hue Royal Palace. Photo: *Vo Thanh*

Before that, on December 23, Quy Mao year, a bamboo pole over 15 meters long was erected at The To Temple and Trieu To Temple, marking the beginning of Tet holiday. At the top of the pole hung a golden seal with four words Phu - Tho - Khang - Ninh, meaning wealth, longevity, health, and peace.

After the flagpole lowering ceremony, locals and tourists lined up to ask for calligraphy at The To Temple. Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Hai Trung, Deputy Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, personally wrote the words Phuc, Loc, Dat, Tam, An... to give to visitors and locals who participated. The words were all stamped with gold stamps taken from the flagpole.

Having received the word Tho, Mrs. Tran Ngoc Bich, 74 years old in Chicago, USA, expressed her impression of the New Year activities at Hue Royal Palace. According to ancient beliefs, these words wish for peace and good fortune.

People ask for calligraphy after the flag lowering ceremony in Hue Royal Palace — Tourists line up to receive letters after the flag-lowering ceremony. Video: *Vo Thanh*

After the flag-lowering ceremony at Trieu To Temple and The To Temple, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center will lower the flag-lowering ceremony at Long An Palace, now the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, and other relic sites.

Vo Thanh

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