Buzz
The traditional wind-avoidance ritual among the Red Dao occurs on the 20th day of the 1st lunar month. During this time, villagers stay indoors, refraining from any productive activities, believing that defying the wind would result in futile efforts.
On the day before, the Red Dao ventured into the mountains to gather wild betel leaves for making traditional square glutinous rice cakes. They believe these leaves ward off the wind and bring good fortune, growing exclusively in climates like Tả Giàng Phình (Sa Pa), nestled in high mountains.
To craft perfect square glutinous rice cakes, the Red Dao meticulously prepare ingredients: wild betel leaves, dried fruits, pork, glutinous rice, a pinch of salt, and charred straw for dyeing the cakes black. They avoid leaving the cakes white, as it's considered unlucky.
Before the wind-avoidance ritual, the Red Dao head to the mountains to collect wild betel leaves for making square glutinous rice cakes. These leaves are believed to possess the ability to repel wind and bring luck. Growing only in regions with favorable climates, such as Tả Giàng Phình (Sa Pa), wild betel leaves are rare and prized by the Red Dao.
In preparation for crafting their square glutinous rice cakes, the Red Dao gather essential ingredients: wild betel leaves, dried fruits, pork, glutinous rice, a dash of salt, and charred straw for black dye. They adhere to the belief that white cakes bring misfortune, hence the preference for black dye.
Firstly, they roast dried fruits over a charcoal fire until they're well-done, then crack the shells, extract the inner pulp, and mash it. The glutinous rice undergoes meticulous kneading before being wrapped. Pork is sliced into long pieces, straw is burnt to ash. The ash is mixed with white glutinous rice to achieve a black color. Wrapping follows the same method as traditional square glutinous rice cakes, layering rice, meat, dried fruits, a pinch of salt, all encased in wild betel leaves.
On the evening of the 19th day of the 1st lunar month, families gather to wrap and cook square glutinous rice cakes. The last cake wrapped is kept away from young children, as it's believed that whoever eats the last cake will always be the last in everything they do. This cake is marked with a string and hung on the main door. The remaining cakes are stored in food cabinets or given as gifts to relatives and friends.
In the evening, leftover wild betel leaves are placed on the roadsides for a ritual to block the wind. Three leaves are placed in the middle of the road, with a stone placed on top to secure them. This ritual is performed in the alleys around the houses.
On the morning of the 20th day of the 1st lunar month, families wake up early to visit their relatives' homes. If living with the husband's family, married couples return to the wife's family to observe the wind-avoidance ritual.
Each family prepares a feast with traditional dishes such as pork, chicken, vegetable soup, square glutinous rice cakes, and rice wine to entertain guests. They gather around the table, drinking wine, sharing interesting stories they've heard and seen.
During this occasion, women take out their embroidery to work on. Many are busy, only completing one set per year. During festivals like the wind-avoidance day, they seize the opportunity to finish the unfinished clothes.
The attire of the Red Dao people in Sa Pa is intricately embroidered with yellow threads, each stitch meticulously crafted. Under the glow of the lights, women work while chatting and laughing.
On this day, men gather at home to study Confucian texts. Centuries-old books are passed down from generation to generation. They sit together, reading Confucian texts aloud. Afterwards, they take out feather pens to rewrite the characters to ensure they are not forgotten.
According to Huynh Kien from Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel Handbook by Mytour
MytourApril 8th, 2019
