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| The lowering of the traditional New Year Neu pole marking the end of the Tet holiday and the preparation for a new working year. Photo: Hue Monuments of Conservation Center |
The ceremony of lowering the traditional New Year Neu pole is an important ritual of the Nguyen Dynasty’s Royal Court, held on the 7th of the first lunar month to mark the end of the Lunar New Year. According to traditional protocol, the ceremony includes the offerings to the Neu pole, performances of imperial grand and chamber court music, the sounding of bells and drums, and the lowering of the traditional New Year Neu pole that was erected on the 23rd day of the previous Lunar December. The Neu pole in the courtyard in front of The Mieu is lowered first, followed by the one at Trieu Mieu.
As the New Year Neu pole is gradually lowered, a restored replica of the Golden Seal is retrieved from its top, engraved with four characters: “Phu - Tho - Khang - Ninh”. In traditional belief, these words convey wishes for prosperity, longevity, health, and peace, expressing hopes for a stable nation, a flourishing country, and a prosperous life for the people in the new year.
Immediately following the New Year Neu Pole Lowering Ceremony is the Imperial Seal Opening for New Year Felicitations, a rite that historically marked the resumption of operations of the Nguyen Dynasty’s central administrative apparatus. The ceremony is reconstructed on the basis of historical research and the inheritance of court ritual elements, contributing to reviving a traditional cultural space within the heart of the heritage site.
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| Visitors eagerly awaiting New Year calligraphy gifts. Photo: Hue Monuments of Conservation Center |
The ceremony of New Year Seal Opening unfolded in a festive atmosphere. Organizers prepared paper and ink for calligraphers to present visitors with characters bearing auspicious meanings such as Phuc (Blessing), Loc (Prosperity), Tho (Longevity), Khang (Well-being), and Tam (Heart). An imperial seal engraved with four seal-script Chinese characters, including “Phu, Tho, Khang, Ninh”, was stamped on each calligraphic work before it was handed to the recipient, serving as a solemn New Year’s blessing.
Blessed with clear, sunny weather, Hue City welcomed a larger-than-usual crowd of visitors this year. Ms. Nguyen Ha Anh, a tourist from Quang Ninh, shared: “I was delighted to witness the Pole Lowering and Seal Initiating ceremonies at Hue Imperial Citadel. It was a meaningful New Year activity, giving me the chance to better understand ancient court rituals, and I was fortunate to receive a calligraphy gift to take home as a keepsake”.
Together with the New Year Neu Pole Erecting Ceremony held on the 23rd day of the Lunar December, the New Year Neu Pole Lowering Ceremony, observed annually on the 7th day of the Lunar January, has become a cultural highlight marking the beginning of the year at Hue Imperial Citadel. Solemnly reenacted amid an ancient architectural setting, these time-honored rituals bring Tet season to a close, usher in a new rhythm of life, and spread the fresh spirit of spring among residents and visitors to Hue Ancient Capital.