Like other ethnic groups in Quang Ninh, Dao Thanh Y ethnic people have their own diverse cultural features which are reflected not only in festivals but also in culinary culture.
The 3rd day of March in lunar calendar is recognized as a Tomb Sweeping Day in Dao Thanh Y ethnic group’s custom. On the day, they pay gratitude to their ancestors and remind each other of their fatherland and origin.
Dao Thanh Y ethnic group often go to gravesites at early morning, burn incense, clean their ancestors’ tombs, place offerings, and invite the dead to enjoy the offerings.
The offerings include cooked chicken and pork, joss paper, wine, fruits. Besides, there must be three-color sticky rice. The colors of the dish, namely red, black and yellow, are extracted from leaves. Magenta plant gives red color while formosan gum trees gives black and turmeric offers yellow. The dish has the taste of nature.
After a while, they enjoy the offerings right at the gravesites.
Tomb-sweeping day is when family members gather the most of the year. Apart from the offering ceremony, it is an occasion for the elderly to remind younger generation to be grateful, respectful to ancestors and tomb-sweeping tradition.
Translated by Quynh Trang
