Early New Year celebrations of Ha Nhi ethnic people in northern Vietnam

The Ha Nhi live in the border communes of Ka Lang, Ta Ba, Thu Lu, and Mu Ca, in the watershed area of the Da River.

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Here in Lai Chau province, they still retain many distinct cultural features, including traditional Tet (New Year) which is usually celebrated early in the 10th lunar calendar.

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Their Tet festival begins on the Thin day (the day of the dragon according to the lunar calendar) and ends on the Thin day in the same month, after people complete their annual crop.

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Ha Nhi people often slaughter pigs to celebrate Tet, considering this as the result of breeding in the year.

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Pig slaughtering is usually held on the early morning of the first Thin day, with the participation of all family members.

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After slaughtering pigs, Ha Nhi people take the most delicious meat to serve as ancestors 'trays, as a report of family members' work in the year.

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According to Ha Nhi people’s traditional custom, the pig’s liver is kept intact

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. The liver is then used by the village patriarch to tell what would happen in a new year.

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Traditionally, if the pig is healthy, its liver’s colour is bright and its bile is full, a bumper rice harvest and good breeding season is anticipated for a new year.