Hue celebrates Tet with re-enactment of royal style pole ceremony

Update: 16/01/2023
The Hue Monuments Conservation Center hosted a ceremony on January 14 at Hue Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi) in the central province of Thue Thien Hue as part of efforts to re-create a traditional Tet with a royal style pole ceremony.

The tree is an old bamboo tree that is nearly 20 metres long that is carried by guards, together with the ritual team and the court music band.

The event follows the ancient royal custom of the Nguyen Dynasty, with the aim of creating a joyful atmosphere on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year.

It is also one of the cultural customs, not only in the nation, but in many other Asian countries. However, for Vietnamese people, the custom of erecting the pole has become a cultural feature for thousands of years.

Ton That Giap, a resident of the Hue Imperial Citadel, said the custom of erecting the pole often takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar to signal the New Year coming, with all families suspending work from December 23 to January 7 to enjoy the Tet atmosphere.

Nguyen Phuoc Hai Trung, deputy director of the Center for Conservation of Hue Monuments ,said visitors will have the opportunity to interact during the course of the ceremony to gain greater insights into the festival’s rituals.

Source: VOV - english.vov.vn - January 14, 2023