The holiday that shows Xạ Phang people’s bond with their livestock animals

ĐBP — Xạ Phang is one of 19 ethnic groups in Điện Biên, residing in the high mountain regions. Through the years of development and settlement, Xạ Phang people still managed to preserve many unique cultural traditions and customs. One of these is the Livestock New Year holiday – a holiday that symbolises the close bond between people and their animals, highlighting the importance of draft animals in the agricultural life of Xạ Phang people.

Xạ Phang people primarily live in the districts of Mường Chà, Tủa Chùa, Nậm Pồ, and Mường Nhé in Điện Biên. They boast a long-standing and rich culture. Take for example the Huổi Lèng village in Huổi Lèng Commune (Mường Chà District), it is home to 44 Xạ Phang households, with nearly 300 inhabitants. Toward the end of the year, when the harvest is over, the cassava gathered and the corn picked, the people here hold the Livestock New Year holiday, humorously referred to as the "birthday" of their cattle and buffaloes. On this day, both people and animals take a break, temporarily putting aside their daily work.

The Livestock New Year is celebrated annually on the 1st of the 10th lunar month. The festival is conducted quite simple. The most important task is likely the pounding of bánh giầy (glutinous rice cake), made from carefully selected round, newly harvested grains of glutinous rice, which is steamed and the paste pounded into cakes. When the cakes are smooth and still warm, Xạ Phang women divide them into two parts: one part is shaped into round cakes and placed on banana leaves to offer to their ancestors, while the other half is rolled into smaller balls and attached to the horns of the family’s cattle and buffaloes.

Xạ Phang people believe that on this day, their cattle and buffaloes are given priority to "celebrate the holiday" first, with specially prepared food. The men in the family cut grass, collect clean water, and mix it with salt to ensure the animals have the best meal on this special day.

This Livestock New Year reflects the close bond between the livestock animals and the farmers in general and Xạ Phang people in particular, demonstrating the important role of livestock in both the cultural, spiritual, and socio-economic lives of Xạ Phang ethnic group.

Huổi Lèng Village, where 100% of the population is Xa Phang, is known for its many unique customs.

The Livestock New Year holiday is an occasion where both people and animals get to rest.

It is also a time for families to reunite after long days of hard work.

To prepare for the Livestock New Year, Xạ Phang women select the best newly harvested glutinous rice, steam it, and pound it into bánh giầy.

The traditional pounding of bánh giầy, which will be offered to ancestors and to honour the family's cattle and buffaloes.

Bánh giầy, made from new rice, is shaped into balls and attached to the horns of the family's cattle and buffaloes, symbolising the people’s hope for the animals to stay healthy and maintain long-lasting ties with the family. 

Trần Nhâm
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • '50 children in special circumstances trained in swimming and drowning prevention skills

    50 children in special circumstances trained in swimming and drowning prevention skills

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - 50 children with special circumstances, currently residing at the SOS Children’s Village Điện Biên Phủ, the provincial Social Welfare Center, and from underprivileged families in several districts and communes in Điện Biên province participated in a swimming and drowning prevention skills training course organized by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
  • 'Maintaining ideological stability in administrative restructuring

    Maintaining ideological stability in administrative restructuring

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The restructuring of administrative units at the commune level is a major policy of the Party and State to streamline the apparatus and improve the operational efficiency of local governments, ultimately serving the people better. To ensure the successful implementation of this process, Điện Biên province has particularly focused on ensuring safety and security, with strong, specific, and timely guidance.
  • 'Ready to establish Điện Biên College

    Ready to establish Điện Biên College

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - After much consideration and planning to align with the province’s development needs, the proposal to establish Điện Biên College is being developed with the goal of merging two vocational education institutions: Điện Biên Vocational College and Điện Biên College of Economics and Techniques, into a single entity named Điện Biên College. This new institution will serve as the province’s key vocational education and training facility.
  • 'Ready for the operation of new commune administrative system

    Ready for the operation of new commune administrative system

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - On June 24, comrade Lê Thành Đô, Deputy Secretary of the Điện Biên provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, inspected the infrastructure and necessary conditions to facilitate the operation of the newly merged communes: Sam Mứn and Núa Ngam.
  • 'CDC Điện Biên with emulation movements for community

    CDC Điện Biên with emulation movements for community

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - In anticipation of the Party Congress at all levels, the staff and workers at the Điện Biên provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC Điện Biên) have been making great efforts to enhance the movement of emulation, achieving the set targets and objectives in the fight against disease and building a strong organization.
  • 'Trust and high hopes for the future

    Trust and high hopes for the future

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The 15th Điện Biên provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term is a landmark political event, marking a new phase in the province’s development as the country pushes forward with comprehensive reform and global integration. As the congress approaches, officials, Party members, and people of all ethnic groups across the province share a common trust and strong expectation for strategic, visionary decisions that will drive Điện Biên towards rapid and sustainable growth.
  • 'Supporting forest owners in opening bank accounts

    Supporting forest owners in opening bank accounts

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Assigning staff to directly inform forest owners about the benefits of receiving forest environmental service payments through bank accounts; coordinating with local authorities and banks to promote, urge, and assist forest owners in completing the bank account opening procedures… are some of the solutions that the Forest Protection and Development Fund of Điện Biên province has been promoting in recent times to increase the rate of forest environmental service (PFES) payments via bank accounts.
  • 'Điện Biên: All set for the 2025 national high school exam

    Điện Biên: All set for the 2025 national high school exam

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The 2025 national high school graduation exam comes at a critical juncture, coinciding with the final days of Vietnam’s transition from a three-tier to a two-tier administrative system. Initially, there were concerns that this major restructuring could disrupt exam preparations. However, across Điện Biên province, authorities at all levels have treated this exam as a top priority, operating under the guiding spirit: “Even with just one day left, we remain fully committed and responsible.”
  • 'Solving the “bumper harvests but low prices” scenario

    Solving the “bumper harvests but low prices” scenario

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - The recurring issue of “bumper harvests but low prices” for agricultural products in recent years has presented a difficult challenge regarding the output and value of agricultural products. In response, local authorities are making efforts to find sustainable solutions for the agricultural sector, focusing on crop restructuring and building effective production-consumption linkages.
  • 'Finding sustainable markets for agricultural products

    Finding sustainable markets for agricultural products

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - In implementing the Agricultural Restructuring Project, in recent years, in addition to focusing on centralized production and commodity-scale farming, localities have also increasingly emphasized consumption, viewing it as a crucial link in the agricultural product value chain. Finding stable, sustainable markets not only minimizes the issue of “bumper harvests but low prices,” but also lays a solid foundation for the development of agriculture in a modern, efficient, and long-term direction.