The 5th day of the 5th lunar month - Doan Ngo festival, "insect extermination festival" for many Vietnamese people is a festival to thank heaven, earth, ancestors and celebrate a successful harvest. And for many people in Ha Tinh, this is also a special festival dedicated to parents.
According to ancient beliefs, the Duanwu Festival is also known by a rather popular name, which is “Insect Extermination Festival”. Simply put, this is the day to launch the campaign to catch insects and destroy pests that are harmful to crops.
On this day, families often prepare offerings to the ancestral altar to show their respect to their grandparents and ancestors. At the same time, it is an opportunity to thank heaven and earth and pray for a bountiful harvest, good health for family members, and to avoid illness...
The Duanwu Festival is also an occasion for family members to gather together and enjoy the fruits of their labor after a year of hard work.
Dishes are often prepared as offerings on the Duanwu Festival. Photo compiled from the Internet.
For people in the mountainous areas of Huong Khe and Vu Quang, the Doan Ngo festival on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month is also an occasion for children and grandchildren to visit their parents.
No one knows where this custom originated and when, but since I grew up, every 5/5 lunar month, I saw my parents go to the market early to prepare offerings. In addition to preparing offerings for the family altar, my parents would buy delicious dishes to bring home to give to my grandparents and have a meal with them.
This festival has a special meaning for those who are preparing to get married or have just got married. Because, according to tradition, this is an occasion for new sons-in-law and daughters-in-law to express their gratitude to their parents-in-law who raised and gave birth to their wives and husbands.
The reunion meal with parents on May 5th is the essence of children's filial piety towards their parents.
In the past, when life was difficult, the gifts given to parents on May 5th were usually a bowl of vermicelli with pork, a sesame rice cake or a plate of boiled pork intestines. Now that life is better, depending on their ability, children can prepare more expensive foods for their parents such as shrimp, crab, abalone... But no matter what the dish is, the core is the filial piety of children towards their parents.
Until now, when my grandparents are no longer here, but every 5/5 lunar month, instead of bowls of noodles, rice paper... my parents are busy preparing offerings, incense and flowers to offer at the altar, to remember my grandparents.
The ancient custom of visiting parents on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month is still maintained by many families in my hometown until now and has become a beautiful cultural tradition.
The 5th day of the 5th lunar month not only reminds us of a folk custom or a seasonal milestone but also teaches us about courtesy, gratitude, and filial piety.
On this day, if you can still cook a meal for your parents, if you can return home to reunite with your family, that is the greatest happiness; that you still have your parents by your side to repay, to embrace and return to!
Linh Ha
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