'Preserving the soul' of Red Dao culture through the coming-of-age ceremony

The coming of age ceremony of Trieu Quy Bao in Ban Cuon 2 village, Cho Don commune.

Thinking back to his coming-of-age ceremony more than a year ago, Trieu Quy Bao in Ban Cuon 2 village still feels moved and happy. He remembers that important day lasted for three days and two nights, the family was as happy as if there was a festival. Villagers and close friends came to celebrate and congratulate Bao and his two nephews.

To prepare for the most important ceremony, the whole family is busy many days before, preparing offerings including pigs, chickens, sticky rice, wine... The women and daughters-in-law in the family are excited to prepare traditional costumes to wear on this special occasion.

Ms. Trieu Thi Cach, a resident of Ban Cuon 2 village, shared: Any family with a son wants to hold a coming-of-age ceremony for their children. This is a long-standing tradition of our Red Dao people. The cost of a coming-of-age ceremony is very expensive, so it can only be done when economic conditions allow.

"The coming-of-age ceremony has many rituals, each with a different meaning. Through the coming-of-age ceremony, descendants will be taught and practice good rituals and cultural features such as teaching about traditions, customs, and morals, and how to behave in order to move towards goodness and avoid evil," said Mr. Dang Huu Phuong, a Red Dao shaman in Cho Don commune.

Also with several decades of experience in organizing the coming-of-age ceremony for the Red Dao community, Mr. Trieu Xuan Minh, shared: From January to the end of February (lunar calendar) is the time when the Red Dao people organize the coming-of-age ceremony. As it is an important religious ritual, they have to carefully choose a good and favorable day to organize it. If the day is not suitable for the family during that time, the coming-of-age ceremony must still be held in winter.

Coming of age ceremony of the Red Dao people in Cho Don commune.

The coming of age ceremony is a mandatory custom in the life of every Dao man. The Dao people attach great importance to the coming of age ceremony. Any man from birth to adulthood must undergo the coming of age ceremony. If he has not undergone this ceremony, no matter how old he is, he is still considered immature .

The ordination ceremony is divided into different levels: The first level is given 3 lamps; the second level is given 7 lamps and the third level is given 12 lamps. The number of people who are ordained in a ceremony is always an odd number, from 3 to 5 people. The shaman chosen to perform the ordination ceremony must be the person who has been ordained with a larger number of lamps.

“On the first day, the family explains the reason, then prays for good harvest and health. On the second day, they ask for forgiveness and absolution for the deceased. On the third day, the ordination ceremony begins. The ordination is shown by a seal, marking that the ordination has been granted to become an adult man, qualified to take on the responsibility of the clan and community,” shaman Trieu Xuan Minh explained in detail.

In the prayer, the shaman always has a vow to advise the recipient to cultivate virtue, live with respect for elders, and not steal... These teachings are expressed by the shaman before the gods, so the educational significance for adults is even more valuable.

The head of Ban Cuon 2 village, Mr. Trieu Tai Van, affirmed: The good customs and traditions of the Red Dao ethnic group are always preserved and promoted by the villagers. We always promote and encourage the younger generations to preserve the national cultural identity such as writing, traditional sewing and embroidery techniques... to promote traditional cultural features so that they do not fade away in modern society.

The coming-of-age ceremony contains many great educational concepts and philosophies about life, guiding children towards "Truth - Goodness - Beauty".

The Dao people's coming-of-age ceremony in Thai Nguyen province has been included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Currently, implementing the new lifestyle, the coming-of-age ceremony has been streamlined, depending on the economic conditions of each family. People who come to celebrate all receive gifts to help the host reduce the burden of organization costs.

The unique cultural feature of community cohesion expressed in the coming-of-age ceremony is being preserved and promoted by the Red Dao people in Ban Cuon 2, Cho Don commune, making it more prominent in the cultural treasure of ethnic groups./.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202508/giu-hon-van-hoa-dao-do-qua-nghi-le-cap-sac-38144a0/