Every spring, folk games and traditional sports at festivals attract a large number of people to participate, preserving traditional cultural beauty, creating a colorful and meaningful spring festival space.
Besides the procession and worship rituals, the festival with folk games is always awaited by everyone. These games not only bring a joyful atmosphere, but also contribute to preserving traditional culture, reflecting the concept of nature and the spirit of community solidarity.
First of all, we must mention the game of throwing the ball, this is a popular game of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups at the New Year festival. The ball is skillfully sewn by women from many colorful cloth pieces, stuffed with rice grains, cotton or sand, with tassels to guide the direction when thrown. The throwing field is a large piece of land, in the middle is a pole made of a tall bamboo tree, with a circular frame attached to the top. The player who throws the ball really high and hits the bull's eye will win. According to folk beliefs, the ball carries the meaning of praying for a year of favorable weather, peace and prosperity, good crops, and bountiful harvests for people.
Participating in the activities at the province's spring festival, Ms. Pham Thu Huong, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: The feeling when throwing the shuttlecock and hitting the bull's eye is hard to describe. Not only I was happy, but everyone was excited. This is the first time I have come to Cao Bang, participating in playing folk games with the locals here has given me interesting and unforgettable experiences.
Another game that attracts a large number of people and tourists is the grass-laying game. This is a game that shows the calculation, judgment and quick reflexes of the players. Each side forms a team of 2 or more people and then sends 1 representative for each turn to compete. Players spread their fingers without any rules and must match the rhythm, move their fingers at the same time as the opponent. Based on the judgment and read aloud the numbers in Han Nom language such as: "nhat" is number 1, "nhi" is number 2, "slam" is number 3, "luc" is number 6..., the rule is that when calling out, there must be a tail, for example, the number 3 is called "slam tim slam", the number 4 is "sle hong sle", the number 6 is "loọc woáy loọc"... Players read aloud the numbers, if the sum of the fingers of the two people is exactly equal to the number read, they win. This game brings excitement and enthusiasm to both players and supporters.
Stick pushing is an indispensable folk game in the early spring festival days in the highland communes. The playing tool is a stick made of sturdy wood or old, straight bamboo trunks, 2 m long. The stick is polished, about 5 cm in diameter. The center point is marked for easy recognition by the players, referees and spectators. From the center point, the two sides are painted or pasted with different colors. In the competition area, a circle about 5 m in diameter is drawn for the two competitors inside, while the spectators stand outside the circle to cheer.
When both sides are ready, the referee shouts “ready” and then blows the whistle to start the match. Both sides use their strength to push the stick towards the opponent. The result is determined when one side is pushed out of the circle by the opponent, the match lasts 3 rounds, the side that wins 2 rounds means winning the whole match.
Up to now, the stick pushing game has become widely popular, going beyond the traditional folk game on every holiday, New Year, spring festival, becoming a mass sport, included in sports competitions, and increasingly loved by many people.
In addition, blindfolded baseball is also a game with strong folk characteristics. This game is challenging, training the player's judgment and orientation. Participants will be blindfolded, then hold a stick and move towards the ball to hit according to the instructions of the people around. The game creates a lot of laughter and excitement for both players and spectators.
Chinese Chess is one of the sports that takes place during festivals, the players are mainly middle-aged and elderly people. The Chinese chess board is rectangular, with 32 pieces (16 pieces on each side). The two players have the task of attacking the opponent's general. If it is their turn to move but they do not have a valid move to make, or cannot protect the general, the side will lose. This sport is not only for entertainment but also carries the spirit of sportsmanship in an intellectual competition with strong national identity.
In addition to the above games, there are many other popular folk games at festivals such as: blindfolded duck catching, human chess, swinging, monkey bridge, sack jumping... bringing excitement and joy, helping people to welcome a new year full of vitality and happiness. Along with joy and entertainment, the games also create a bond between the community and family and carry profound cultural values, are a bridge between generations, helping to convey traditional values, ethics and community spirit. In modern life, preserving and promoting these games not only contributes to preserving national cultural identity but also brings the younger generation meaningful and humane experiences.
Van Khanh
Source: https://baocaobang.vn/net-dep-tro-choi-dan-gian-trong-le-hoi-dau-xuan-3175559.html
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