Some Festivals during the Traditional Tết Celebration of the White Thai in Chăn Nưa Commune, Then and Now

Abstract

Lai Châu province is the home of many minority groups, among which the Thai is the largest group. Before the Kinh settled in Lai Châu, the Thai had a highly developed social organization and culture, especially around their folk and written Iiterature (written in the ancient Thai script) with diverse historical and social knowledge. The folk culture of the White Thai in Lai Châu includes both tangible and intangible culture, and their festivals are very diverse and abundant. Every year there are over ten big and small festivals. Although these festivals are called by the same names and worship the same gods or goddesses across all white Thai communities, the ceremonies and the times of the testivals vary in different areas. Therefore, we are going to discuss the testivals in the area where, in the past, the white Thai used to primarily live: Chăn Nưa commune, Sìn Hồ district, Lai Châu province. The times of the festivals are in lunar dates. Some festivals are still preserved today while many others are no longer celebrated or lost entirely.