The Ancient Art of Long Tong: A Window into the Soul of the Tay
Long Tong Festival: A Vibrant Celebration of Agriculture and Culture
Long Tong, or “going to the field,” is an annual agricultural festival of the Tay ethnic group, a vibrant community of over 1.6 million people residing in Vietnam’s northern mountain region. This unique festival is a celebration of their deep connection to the land and their rich cultural heritage.
Held between the 1st and 15th days of the lunar new year, Long Tong is more than just a festival; it is a sacred ritual dedicated to the god of agriculture. Families and communities come together to seek blessings for bountiful crops, prosperity, and good health for the year ahead.
The preparations for Long Tong are extensive and begin well before the new year. Each family in the village has a specific role, with the most crucial task being the preparation of the offering tray. This tray is a feast for the gods, including a boiled capon, pig head, grilled fish, and colorful sticky rice. The “con,” a small ball made from cloth and stuffed with puffed rice and cotton seeds, is a unique feature of this festival, decorated with tassels and presented as an offering.
Long Tong is comprised of three main parts: the offering ritual, the ploughing ceremony, and folk games. The ritual begins with a shaman reciting prayers in the Tay dialect, inviting deities to bestow their blessings upon the village. This is followed by the “tich dien,” where a male buffalo is led by the festival host to plow the first furrows of the year, believed to bring good luck and abundant crops.
However, the highlight of the festival is the folk games, with “nem con” taking center stage. This exciting game involves throwing the “con” through a ring placed atop a pole. Other games include tug-of-war, blind man’s bluff, and “yen playing,” a badminton-like game with a twist—it’s played between a man and a woman!
- Experience the Magic of Long Tong
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