July Full Moon Holiday of the Tay Ethnic Group in Bac Kan
Held approximately at the same time with Vu Lan Festival of the Kinh ethnic group, the July Full Moon Holiday (also known as Slip Sli Holiday) of Tay people is a chance for everyone to worship their ancestors. On that day of the year, all members of a family gather together so that the children can express their gratitude, love and piety towards the elders.
Photo : baomoi.vn
Because of the holiday, July becomes a special month of the year, during which people are especially cheerful and happy. Tay people in every village in Bac Kan prepare for this second-largest holiday of the year in a long time with zeal and alacrity. They set aside their routine jobs to concentrate their entire mind to preparation for the holiday. The market-day before the start of July Full Moon Holiday is amazingly festive. People are everywhere, trying to get the most typical goods and foods needed to fulfill their holiday: the leaves to wrap traditional cakes, green beans, wild bananas,… and an indispensable dish that cannot be left out: duck.
Photo : plo.vn
According to the tradition, on every July Full Moon Holiday, Tay people in Bac Kan must make Peng Tai cakes, Chung Cakes with ginger and fish stuffing, fresh vermicelli and duck, etc. to worship their ancestors and the wandering souls, wishing that good health and luck will come to each member of the family. On the 14th and the 15th of July, the whole family will gather around the table, having warm and intimate meals together. During this short period of time, Tay people have a custom which indicates that the son-in-law must give a pair of ducks to his parents-in-law to show his thankfulness and respect. Why? Because they have raised and educated his wife!
The July Full Moon Festival is a distinctive and unique feature of Tay ethnic group’s culture, representing their love towards one another and their respect towards the revered. It contributes a great deal to the deep cultural life of those people whose lives are already incredible.
