Gau Tao Festival

Gau Tao Festival is a long-standing festival of the H'mong ethnic group that usually takes place from the 1st to the 15th day of the first lunar month. This festival is usually held in Muong Khuong, Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai and Phong Hai town. In the past, if a certain householder had no children, or gave birth to a single child, the children were sick, the crop was not bountiful, or the livestock died, then he invited the teacher to come back to celebrate and hold a festival. The previous festival was organized by a family with the help of relatives, who would invite the teacher to worship and prepare the festival together. The festival venue is a large area for everyone to come and have fun, before the festival, the family will erect a tree to signal the surrounding local villagers to come to see the festival. The tree can be a bamboo tree planted in the middle of an empty field in the center of the festival, usually carrying a bunch of rice or corn, a wine gourd, a red ribbon, as a small offering to honor heaven and earth. sacred. Before setting up the tree, the family must burn incense and ask permission from the vijthaanf to allow the family to organize. On the main holiday, the owner slaughters pigs and cows, and gives thanks to brothers and friends. After the ceremony ended, the festival took place, the festival part took place many special activities, this festival time is also an opportunity for boys and girls to meet and confess their feelings. At the end of the festival, the owner of the house lowers the tree, the shaman walks while the ceremony, the owner takes the red cloth to bring home to pray for eternal blessings. Later, under the attention of the state and local authorities, the festival was expanded to become a festival of the village community. Currently, Gau Tao festival is held every year with a lot of activities and games such as balancing on trees, blindfolded catching goats, stick pushing contest.... Not only attracts the villagers around here, but the festival also attracts many visitors to experience the festival atmosphere.