The custom of 'first-footing' in Nam Dinh officially becomes a national intangible cultural heritage

On April 6, the community of Gao village (Thanh Loi commune, Vu Ban district , Nam Dinh province) happily received the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate for the "Custom of visiting temples, shrines, family temples, and houses" on New Year's Eve.

Ceremony to receive the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate "The custom of visiting temples, shrines, ancestral houses and houses" on New Year's Eve in Gao village. Photo: TL

Previously, on December 10, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 3990/QD-BVHTTDL to include the "Custom of visiting temples, shrines, ancestral houses, and houses" on New Year's Eve of Gao village in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in the category of social customs and beliefs.

Gao Village, whose Chinese name is Cao Linh, later changed to Qua Linh - is an ancient Vietnamese village formed during the Hung King period, associated with the story of 18 clans coming to reclaim land and establish villages.

Many traditional customs, traditions and folk beliefs bearing the national cultural identity are still preserved here. Among them, the custom of visiting temples, shrines and churches (called "visiting the house") on New Year's Eve is a unique feature of the culture of Gao village.

On New Year's Eve, the whole village of Gao has up to 20 house processions following each other on the village road.

After the processions arrived at the East Temple, the Tran Dynasty Temple, at the sacred moment of transition between the old year and the new year, everyone entered to open the temple door and offer their wishes to Thanh Hoang and ancestors, wishing for a new year of good health for the villagers, prosperity and happiness for every family.

After performing the rituals, people who enter temples, shrines, and churches give lucky money to the participants in the procession for luck and fortune for the whole year and sit together to sip lucky wine, excitedly praying for the best things for themselves and their families in the new year.

After receiving the blessing, everyone returns home to light incense to show their respect and gratitude to their ancestors.

The custom of visiting the first house of the New Year in Gao village deeply demonstrates the traditional morality of remembering the source of water of the local people towards the village's tutelary gods and ancestors.

People of Gao village perform the temple-sweeping ritual at Dong temple. Photo: TL

The activities of worship, torch procession, incense offering, offering gifts... demonstrate the village community spirit, the spirit of solidarity to overcome difficulties and challenges, in which family culture blends with clan culture, village culture... creating unique characteristics.

Over time, with many historical changes, the custom of visiting temples, shrines, family churches, and houses is still maintained, preserved and developed by local people, becoming a typical cultural beauty of the people of Gao village.

The Vu

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-tuc-xong-nha-o-nam-dinh-chinh-thuc-la-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-quoc-gia-post341712.html