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When does the Mac Cuu’s canonization ceremony take place? Importance of the festival.

The Mạc Cửu Memorial Ceremony is a traditional festival of the people in Ha Tien, Kien Giang, which aims to pay tribute to those who came before and ignite the patriotism within the nation.

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25 November, 2023

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The Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is a traditional festival of the people of Kiên Giang, held annually on the 14th day of the 3rd lunar month to commemorate the merits of Mạc Cửu – the one who explored and established the Hà Tiên region.

Today, let’s learn more about this traditional Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony with Bách hoá XANh!

1Introduction to the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

Origin of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

The origin of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is rooted in the gratitude of the people of Hà Tiên for his merits. Mạc Cửu is the one who explored and established the Hà Tiên region. He was a talented and ambitious person who served as an official for the Ming Dynasty. In 1677, he and his family and some other people crossed the sea to the uncultivated land of Hà Tiên.

With his intelligence and determination, Mạc Cửu cleared the land, built settlements, and developed the prosperous Hà Tiên region. He also contributed to trade and business with neighboring countries, contributing to the opening up and economic development of this land.

In 1708, King Lê Hy Tông appointed Mạc Cửu as the Governor of Hà Tiên, granting him the title of Thái thú. He was entrusted with the administration of the Hà Tiên region and was given the seal and national title of “Phúc An” by the king.

Mạc Cửu passed away on the 14th of March, 1735, at the age of 75. He was honored by the people of Hà Tiên as “Đức khai trấn” (the founder of Hà Tiên).

Origin of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

Significance of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

To commemorate the merits of Mạc Cửu, the people of Hà Tiên have built a shrine dedicated to him. The Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is held annually on the 14th day of the 3rd lunar month to remember his merits.

The Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is a traditional festival of the people of Kiên Giang. The festival is not only an occasion for people to remember the merits of Mạc Cửu, but also to evoke their love for the country and the moral values of “remembering the source when drinking water” and “remembering the planter when eating fruit”. It is also an opportunity to promote and introduce the beautiful and prosperous Hà Tiên region.

Significance of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

2Rituals of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

The ceremony is held in the morning of the 14th day of the 3rd lunar month. The ceremony is conducted solemnly and respectfully to commemorate the merits of Mạc Cửu.

The ceremony is held in the morning of the 14th day of the 3rd lunar month.

The ceremony follows the following steps:

Opening ceremony: The organizing committee declares the opening of the ceremony.
Receiving the sentence: The organizing committee receives the sentence seal from the ancestral shrine to the dedicated shrine.
Procession of the deity: The organizing committee parades the sentence seal and the palanquin of Mạc Cửu from the ancestral shrine to the dedicated shrine.
Ceremonial offerings: The organizing committee conducts ceremonial offerings to Mạc Cửu.
Thanksgiving offering: The organizing committee offers gratitude to Mạc Cửu.

Rituals of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

3Exciting activities during the festive part of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

The festival is held in the afternoon of the 14th day of the 3rd lunar month. The festival includes various cultural and artistic activities, traditional games, etc.

The cultural and artistic activities include traditional art performances, sports competitions, etc.

The traditional games include tug of war, blindfolded pot smashing, stick pushing, human chess, sack hopping, etc.

In addition, the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony also features various tourism promotion activities such as the Tứ Hùng Football Tournament, food fair, procession, and tennis tournament, etc.

Exciting activities during the festive part of the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

4Tips for attending the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

If you are planning to attend the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Choose the right time to go: The Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is held for 3 days, from the 12th to the 14th day of the 3rd lunar month. You can choose a suitable time to go according to your schedule. However, if you want to participate in the festival activities, it is recommended to go on the 14th day of the 3rd lunar month, the main day of the commemoration ceremony.

Prepare appropriate clothing: The Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is a traditional festival, so it is advised to wear proper and elegant clothing. You should also bring a hat, cap, umbrella, or parasol to protect yourself from the sun.

Prepare offerings: If you want to participate in the ceremonial offerings, you should prepare offerings such as flowers, fruits, gold, etc. You can buy the offerings at the shops near the Mạc Cửu shrine.

Learn about the festival: Before attending the ceremony, you should learn about the schedule and activities of the festival to fully participate.

Prepare mentally: The Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is a solemn festival, so it is important to prepare yourself mentally for respectful participation.

Here are some things to keep in mind when attending the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony:

Follow the regulations of the organizing committee.
Do not litter irresponsibly.
Maintain cleanliness in public areas.
Respect the rituals of the ceremony.

Tips for attending the Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony

The Mạc Cửu Commemoration Ceremony is a traditional festival that strongly reflects the cultural identity of the people of Kiên Giang. If you have the opportunity to visit Hà Tiên, don’t miss the chance to participate in this festival.