July Full Moon Holiday of the Tay Ethnic Group in Bac Kan

Held around the same time as the Vu Lan Festival celebrated by the Kinh ethnic group, the July Full Moon Holiday (also known as the Slip Sli Holiday) of the Tay people offers a poignant opportunity for families to honor their ancestors. On this special day, family members gather to express their gratitude, love, and respect for their elders.

Photo: baomoi.vn

In 2025, July remains a distinct and festive month as the Tay communities in Bac Kan prepare for this second-most celebrated holiday of the year with enthusiasm and dedication. Families set aside their daily activities to devote themselves fully to the preparations. The market day leading up to the July Full Moon Holiday is vibrant and lively, filled with people bustling about to gather traditional foods and necessities for the celebration: leaves for wrapping traditional cakes, green beans, wild bananas, and, notably, duck, which is an essential dish for the holiday.

Photo: plo.vn

Following tradition, during the July Full Moon Holiday, the Tay people in Bac Kan prepare traditional dishes such as Peng Tai cakes, Chung Cakes filled with ginger and fish, fresh vermicelli, and duck to honor their ancestors and the wandering souls, as they wish for health and good fortune for all family members. On the 14th and 15th of July, families gather around the table, sharing warm and meaningful meals together. The custom also includes the son-in-law presenting a pair of ducks to his parents-in-law as a symbol of gratitude and respect for raising and educating his wife.

The July Full Moon Festival stands as a distinctive and unique expression of the Tay ethnic group's culture, highlighting their deep familial bonds and respect for the revered. This holiday significantly enriches the cultural fabric of a community that is already rich in history and tradition.