Every time Tet comes, in Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province, the image of a pair of large, straight, green sugarcane stalks placed solemnly in the house has become a characteristic in the life of the Muong people.
Not simply a crop, sugarcane also has sacred meaning, symbolizing fertility, development and is closely associated with the beliefs and customs of this nation.
Ms. Dinh Thi Heu, a Muong ethnic in Muong Lo hamlet, Phong Phu commune, said that in her ethnic culture, sugarcane is considered an "immortal tree".
The image of sugarcane appears in many important rituals of human life. When a child is born, when a couple gets married or when a person leaves this world, the sugarcane is present as a symbol of life and connection.
In weddings, sugarcane symbolizes the blessing of a large family. The person carrying the sugarcane at the wedding ceremony is usually a young male in the groom's family, expressing the wish for a new generation. In funerals, sugarcane is associated with the farewell ceremony, carried on the shoulders of the bus singer, helping the soul of the deceased find its way to the resting place.
On the occasion of Lunar New Year, Muong people often place sugarcane on the ancestral altar, showing respect and praying for a prosperous new year.
Ms. Heu shared: "Sugarcane is planted with the top and nodes. When it falls to the ground, the sugarcane buds sprout and the roots dig deep into the ground. Therefore, sugarcane is also a symbol of fertility and growth, carrying the hope for a good new year."
Choosing sugarcane for Tet is also very meticulous. According to Muong people, sugarcane must be straight, long, disease-free, with intact roots and leaves. Sugarcane with purple stems and sprouting buds is considered to bring good luck.
Not only has spiritual meaning, sugarcane also symbolizes sincerity and community connection.
Mrs. Bui Thi Phi in Luy Ai hamlet, Phong Phu commune, shared: "Families that grow delicious and beautiful sugarcane often save it for Tet, both for worship and as gifts for relatives and neighbors. When coming to ask for sugarcane, everyone takes time to chat and ask about Tet preparations and plans for the new year."
Sugarcane seems to have become an indispensable part of the traditional Tet holiday of the Muong people. Not only is it an offering to ancestors, sugarcane also carries aspirations for happiness, abundance and a peaceful and prosperous new year.
