Vietnamese Tết Programme 2021 at Thăng Long Imperial Citadel “Ushering in the New Year of Tân Sửu”
The Lunar New Year is an important holiday in Vietnam and other East Asian countries, as it marks the beginning of a new year with profound human values. In addition, it is also the day of reunion, when families get together, pay tribute to their ancestors and exchanges wishes of good luck.
In order to promote cultural values of the Thăng Long royal court of yore, and in celebration of the foundation of the Vietnamese Communist Party (3 February), the Thăng Long-Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Center organizes activities to welcome the New Year of Tân Sửu 2021, the Year of the Ox, with the theme “Ushering the New Year of Tân Sửu“. The program includes a series of exhibitions, performance experiences, and interactive experiences, all of which are expected to serve the people to welcome the spring and joy of Tết and contribute to the preservation of the traditional cultural values.
The Presentation of Spring Ox in the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel (Source: Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre)
The thematic exhibition “Ushering the New Year of Tân Sửu” introduces to the public original images of the spring ox presentation as a ceremony through the model of the God of Spring and the spring ox given by the King in the First Solar Term Ceremony under the Lê Trung Hưng (Restored Lê) Period. The exhibition also features traditional cultural customs and mores of the Vietnamese people during Tết, such as preparing worshiping space, exchanging wishes of good luck and giving lucky money on the new year, as well as the art of calligraphy and painting under the theme of welcoming the spring. A highlight of the programme is the decorative cluster “Aspirations of Spring”, featuring the model of the Golden Ox family welcoming the New Year, traditional lantern system, spring travel animated panel, and miniature landscape with colorful spring flowers. This decorative cluster can help visitors and families keep the warmest moments of the new spring.
The Vietnamese Tết Programme “Ushering in the New Year of Tân Sửu” also reserves ample time and space for children to play and learn about history and tradition such as the story-telling about the presentation of spring oxen during the Restored Lê Period. Tết in the royal palace was associated with the practice of seeking and giving calligraphy characters. Other creative experiences include “special products to welcome the spring”, calligraphical writings, painting folk wood prints, kneading dough figurines, making artificial peach blossoms and daisies, making flowers and mascots from leaves under the instruction of Artisan Nguyễn Mạnh Thắng.
Recreation of the Spring Ox Ceremony: For the first time, Thăng Long-Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre has coordinated with Thăng Long Cultural Heritage Association and Ỷ Vân Hiên Company to practice the Spring Ox Ceremony, a unique ritual in the court of old. This ceremony took place on the day of the first solar term, carrying with it the desire to dispel the cold of winter, welcome a new spring and hope for a bumper crop. The presentation of the spring ox ceremony will be trialed at Imperial Citadel of Thang Long based on research results on royal ceremonies, including rituals that took place at Kính Thiên Palace such as the procession of spring ox, presentation of spring ox; giving of spring ox, and beating of spring ox.
Detailed schedule of activities:
- Exhibition activities (from 4 February to 1 March 2021).
- Kitchen God Ceremony, presentation of spring ox, and erection of New Year’s Tree (cây Nêu) (4 February 2021).
- Water puppet shows (13-16 February 2021, at 10:00 and 15:00).
- Activities for Children (From 14 February to 16 February 2021).
- New Year’s incense offering ceremony (20 February 2021).
Visiting time: from 8h00 to 17h00
Thăng Long Imperial Citadel is closed for sightseeing on 10, 11, and 12 February 2021. However, visitors can still come to offer incense and joysticks at relic spots with free entrance.
The Site is open again to public from 13 February 2021.
- To book a visit, please contact: 04.3.7345427
- Website: hoangthanhthanglong.vn
- Please download the ThăngLong Imperial Citadel interpretation app on CH Play App Store.
THĂNG LONG – HÀ NỘI HERITAGE CONSERVATION CENTER
