Fire procession for good luck at the beginning of the year of An Dinh villagers

Perform: | 21/02/2024

(Fatherland) - Every year on the evening of January 11, at the An Dinh communal house yard (Ha Dong district, Hanoi), people hold a fire procession ceremony, where votive paper is burned and people take the fire home, which is called "taking red" for the new year.

Every year on January 11, the people of An Dinh village (Ha Dong district, Hanoi) have had the custom of praying for fire for good luck for generations. At around 8:45 p.m., the elders begin beating the drums to signal the time to perform the ceremony, prepare to "break up the festival" and burn votive papers.

When the clock strikes exactly 9:00 p.m., the sound of gongs and drums from the inner palace resounds, and all the votive paper offerings from the prayer ceremony are brought to the communal house yard to be burned and offered to the ancestors.

When the fire was brought out from the communal house, the votive paper burst into flames, and villagers rushed to light incense on the fire to "get red". For the people of An Dinh, the "get red" ritual has sacred and lucky meanings.

An Dinh villagers consider lighting incense from the votive fire as "taking red", "red" symbolizes luck and prosperity. Hundreds of people came to ask for fire, but there was no jostling or pushing. They tended the fire for each other, showing the strong neighborly relationship.

After "taking red", the people of An Dinh village run home as fast as they can to offer it to their ancestors. With the belief that the family that "takes red" and returns the fastest will be lucky and have much fortune.

Mr. Trung arrived early today with his son and a neighbor. Sharing with reporters, Mr. Trung said: "Every time this happens, I bring my son along so he can learn about the customs and beauty of the place where I live. I do this "getting red" every year, it has become an indispensable habit, "getting red" to bring luck home for a favorable new year."

Source: https://toquoc.vn/le-ruoc-lua-cau-may-man-dau-nam-cua-nguoi-dan-lang-an-dinh-20240221005317235.htm