Introduction to the Nang Hai Festival
The Nang Hai Festival, also known as the Moon Mother Festival, is a national intangible cultural heritage recognized under Decision No. 2459/QD-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This festival is a distinctive cultural trait of the Tay people, still preserved almost intact in Tien Thanh commune (Phuc Hoa district) and Kim Dong commune (Thach An district) of Cao Bang province. It is not merely an entertainment event but a comprehensive folk performance reflecting the spiritual life, beliefs, and aspirations of the mountainous agricultural community.
Unlike many other folk festivals that focus on a single aspect, the Nang Hai Festival is a holistic cultural picture, harmoniously combining rituals, music, singing, dancing, and customs. The festival was born from the daily labor and life of farmers, where harsh natural conditions and backward farming techniques made agriculture almost entirely dependent on nature. Thus, people entrusted their hopes for a new year of favorable weather, abundant harvests, and a prosperous life to supernatural forces.
Origins and Cultural Space of the Festival
The Nang Hai Festival originates from the Tay people's folk belief in Mother Goddess worship. According to local belief, there is a supreme deity in heaven, the Moon Mother, who governs all, and she has 12 fairy daughters. These 12 fairies take care of the lives and crops of people on earth. The number 12 is not coincidental; it symbolizes the 12 months of the year and the 12 zodiac animals, representing the cyclical nature of time and agricultural production. The Moon Mother figure is linked to the waxing and waning of the moon, also symbolizing the fertility, growth, and regeneration of nature.
The festival takes place in the cultural space of the village, where the community lives. It is organized for the purpose of crop worship, a common practice in traditional agricultural communities. The singing nights during the festival are held to invite the Nang Hai, the daughters of the Moon Mother, to descend from heaven to join the festivities and assist people in their field work. The presence of these deities is believed to bring favorable weather, lush crops, and happiness to all households.
Structure and Progress of the Festival
The Nang Hai Festival is a structured folk performance divided into three main parts, each with its own meaning and set of offerings. This division creates a complete narrative, from welcoming the deities to seeing them off back to heaven.
Reception of Hai (Le don Hai)
This is the opening ritual, of great significance, to welcome the Nang Hai from heaven to the mortal world. The community prepares offerings to present to the Moon Mother and the fairies. Offerings typically include local products, expressing the people's reverence and hospitality. The atmosphere of this part is solemn yet joyful and expectant.
Invocation of Hai (Le cau Hai)
This is the main and most important ritual part of the festival, taking place over several nights with rich singing and dancing activities. It is when people interact and converse with the Nang Hai, presenting their wishes and aspirations. The content of songs and dances often revolves around praying for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, health, peace, and happiness. The rituals in this part are deeply imbued with fertility beliefs, featuring imitations of the growth and reproduction of plants, animals, and humans, expressing the community's desire for abundance and continuous development.
Farewell to Hai (Le tien Hai)
After the festive days, the final part is the ceremony to see the Nang Hai off back to heaven. This ritual is performed with solemnity and reluctance, expressing gratitude to the deities for coming to help and witness the sincerity of the villagers. The Farewell to Hai concludes a festival cycle but also opens a new year filled with hope and faith in the protection of the Moon Mother and the Nang Hai.
Significance of Fertility Beliefs in the Festival
Fertility belief is one of the deepest layers of meaning in the Nang Hai Festival. In traditional agricultural societies, the reproduction of crops, livestock, and humans is vital for community survival. Therefore, the rituals are not merely prayers for good weather but also embody deep aspirations for growth and proliferation. The Moon Mother and her 12 fairies symbolize nature's boundless reproductive power. The Moon Mother is the great mother, the source of life.
The singing and dancing often use symbolic language with metaphorical images of the union between heaven and earth, yin and yang. This union is considered key to the fertility of all things. The festival is also an occasion for young men and women in the village to meet and interact, strengthening community bonds and laying the foundation for the community's continuity across generations. Thus, the Nang Hai Festival is seen as a clear manifestation of Mother Goddess worship, a distinctive cultural feature of the Vietnamese people in general and ethnic minorities in particular.
Cultural and Historical Values
The Nang Hai Festival is not merely a religious activity but a precious cultural heritage carrying multiple layers of cultural and historical value. It preserves and transmits many folk songs, dances, costumes, and unique customs of the Tay people. Through the festival, younger generations have the opportunity to learn about their roots, history, and traditional cultural values.
The recognition of the Nang Hai Festival as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is an important acknowledgment, raising community awareness of heritage preservation. It also facilitates research, collection, and promotion of the unique cultural values of Vietnam's ethnic minority communities. The festival is living evidence of rich cultural creativity and human adaptability to the natural environment.
The Nang Hai Festival in the Contemporary Context
Today, as people's material and spiritual lives improve, the Nang Hai Festival still holds an important place in the spiritual life of the Tay community. It is not only an occasion to express gratitude to deities but also a chance for reunions, strengthening neighborhood ties, and educating the youth about cultural traditions. While preserving core values, the festival is also adapting to contemporary life, such as combining the introduction of local products and cultural and sports activities to attract tourists.
Preserving and promoting the Nang Hai Festival's value requires joint efforts from the community and authorities. Supportive policies are needed for artisans who hold and teach folk songs and traditional rituals. Additionally, advocacy and education should be strengthened so younger generations understand and take pride in their cultural heritage. The Nang Hai Festival deserves to be preserved and promoted as a cultural treasure of the Tay people in Cao Bang, enriching Vietnam's diverse cultural landscape.
