Pay Tai - Filial piety festival ofTay people in Luc Yen

Culture

Pay Tai - Filial piety festival ofTay people in Luc Yen

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Tay ethnic minority people have a saying that “Tet comes in the first lunar month but starts from the seventh month of the previous year”, which is to mention “Pay Tai” or “Pay chuong Tai”, a traditional practice during which sons-in-law visit and express gratitude towards their parents-in-law during Tet (Lunar New Year Festival) and the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.

Paying tribute to ancestors with offerings during Pay Tai festival of Tay people in Luc Yen.

I and my friend, Minh, are both from Red River Delta localities and reside in Yen Bai province. We have married to Tay women in Luc Yen district so we understand some about "Pay Tai”.

In the Tay people’s tradition, married women must take care of all affairs in the husband’s family, so that the second day of the first lunar month and the 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year are the occasions for them to visit their parents. This also gives the opportunities for the women and their husbands to show filial piety to the former’s parents.

On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month this year, Minh excitedly told me about his "Pay Tai” stories. A man that had experienced numerous jobs before staring a stable career as a seller of construction materials after getting married found that the practice is a "great fun”.

"My wife gave birth to our second child eight months ago. We have two children after three years! The 15th day of the seventh lunar month this year, I will take the whole family to Luc Yen andbuy a couple of ducks, dozens of "Banhgai” (thorn leaf cakes), square cakes and a bottle of good wine to present to my parents-in-law,” Minh said.

Concluding the conversation, we went to the market to buy the items that Minh had listed, which are indispensable things in Pay Tai as the Tay people have the saying "eat chicken meat in the first lunar month, duck meat in the seventh month.”

In the Tay spiritual life, duck isa sacred animal playing the role of the emissary between the earth and the heaven. According to the legend of Kham hai, the duck carried on its back a cock crossing the sea as an offering to the heaven on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year.

On this day, the Tay people also hold an "amnesty for the dead” ritual with "Banh gai”, which is called "Peng Tai (journey cake) in Tay language, aiming to commemorate the Tay soldiers.

After preparing all the gifts, I and my family will came to the house of my parents-in-law on the 14th day of the seventh lunar month, one day before the festival in line with the tradition. After preparing a meal to offer to the ancestors and pray for bumper crops, we will have the meal together to enjoy traditional dishes such as duck meat, bamboo shoot soup, banana cake and "banh gai”.

This is a fantastic experience that we enjoy each year.

Hoai Van

Other news

Logo design contest for Mu Cang Chai District.

Artist Luong Xuan Doan, President of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (center), and the judging panel reviewing contest submissions.

After a seven-month launch period, the organizing committee of the Logo Design Contest for Mu Cang Chai District (Yen Bai Province) received 151 submissions from across the country.

Mu Cang Chai Preserves Ethnic Cultural Identity

A vibrant performance showcasing Mong cultural heritage at the 2024 Paragliding Festival in Mu Cang Chai.

Mu Cang Chai district, with nearly 96% of its population from ethnic minorities, includes 89.4% Mong people, who preserve rich cultural traditions such as the Gau Tao festival, the New Rice Offering, wedding customs, and traditional dance and music…

Yen Bai sees nearly 52% increase in tourism despite challenges

Tourists enjoying the golden rice terrace season in Mu Cang Chai.

Despite a 40% drop in tourist numbers in September due to the impact of Typhoon No. 3, Yen Bai welcomed over 1.114 million visitors in the first ten months of 2024—a 51.58% increase year-over-year.

New Rice Offering Ceremony at Nhuoc Son Temple, Chau Que Ha Commune

The New Rice Offering Ceremony at Nhuoc Son Temple is held annually on the 20th day of the 9th lunar month (20/9).

Recently, at the Nhuoc Son Temple, a national cultural and historical site located in Ngoc Chau Hamlet, Chau Que Ha Commune, Van Yen District, the New Rice Offering Ceremony was held to honor the great contributions of General Ha Chuong of the Tay ethnic group. The ceremony also conveyed wishes for a life of prosperity, warmth, and happiness.

Culture