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

  • 'Tủa Thàng gears up for election day

    Tủa Thàng gears up for election day

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and deputies to People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term will take place on March 15, 2026. With strong political resolve, coordinated engagement across the entire political system, and a high sense of responsibility among officials, Party members and people of all ethnic groups, Tủa Thàng commune is determined to organize a democratic, safe, economical and law compliant election so that election day truly becomes a major festival for all citizens.
  • 'Protecting people’s health early and from afar

    Protecting people’s health early and from afar

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - With the consistent viewpoint of “taking disease prevention as the main focus, taking preventive medicine and grassroots-level healthcare as the foundation,” in 2026, the health sector of Điện Biên province continues to deploy synchronous and drastic solutions to care for and protect people’s health right from the grassroots level; strengthening control of risk factors, thereby proactively preventing diseases, reducing the burden of treatment and medical costs in the long term.
  • 'Smart devices in Điện Biên schools: Control, guidance and safe use

    Smart devices in Điện Biên schools: Control, guidance and safe use

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Organizing online learning, group study and academic research through smart devices has become an inevitable trend, especially as science and technology applications and digital transformation accelerate. Alongside this trend, closer coordination and stronger management between schools and parents are required to ensure students use smart devices effectively and safely.
  • 'Sustainable exploitation of non-timber forest products

    Sustainable exploitation of non-timber forest products

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - Non-timber forest products in the forests in the province are quite abundant and diverse. If protected and exploited reasonably, these by-products not only contribute to conserving the forest ecosystem but also bring income and sustainable livelihoods for people living near forests.
  • 'Improving labor quality

    Improving labor quality

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - Điện Biên has a young population structure, an abundant workforce, and a high proportion of working-age laborers.
  • 'Bridge bringing voters’ voices to legislative hall

    Bridge bringing voters’ voices to legislative hall

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - With the role as the local State power agency, representing the will, aspirations, and mastery of the People, being responsible to the People; deciding on important issues for socio-economic development, national defense - security of Điện Biên province, recently, People’s Council deputy groups and People’s Council deputies at all levels in the province have always fulfilled well the role of a “bridge” between the Party, administration, voters, and the People.
  • 'Where policy becomes practice: The true test of grassroots governance

    Where policy becomes practice: The true test of grassroots governance

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The effectiveness of a policy at the grassroots level is determined not by how it is issued, but by how it is implemented. Practice shows that where people are involved from the outset, can monitor implementation, and directly benefit from the outcomes, policies are far more likely to take root in daily life and generate lasting consensus.
  • 'Early Tết shopping on online markets

    Early Tết shopping on online markets

    ECONOMY -
    ĐBP - In recent years, the trend of early shopping on online markets on the occasion of the up-coming 2026 Lunar New Year (Tết) has become increasingly popular among people in Điện Biên province.