Learn the customs of Ching Chieng – The practice of killing insects of the Yen Bai Red Dao

With the desire to eradicate pests that cause harm to plants as soon as they are still in eggs, every year, Red Dao people in Yen Bai have a hard day – a day to kill insects.
The day of cinching (also known as the day of killing insects) of the Red Dao people of Yen Bai is usually on a day of February, March of the lunar calendar and must be the day of recession according to the Dao’s calendar. No one here remembers the old customs, but only knows that according to grandparents, ancestors in the past, people lived mainly on agricultural production, depending on nature. Therefore, there are years when pests cause harmful outbreaks, affecting heavily the yield of crops. Because of that, the people have set up hard days and have been maintained up to now, with the expectation that the plants will be green, rich, and free from pests.

The seeds are prepared. According to Ms. Trieu Thi Tiep in 2 Tuc village, Phuc Loi commune, Luc Yen district, Yen Bai province: By the day of good luck, people must prepare all kinds of seeds such as maize, rice, gourd, pumpkin, sesame, peanuts, beans, beans … and these seeds are put into the pan to cook so that the pests harmful to the plant will be eliminated. “Since ancient times, the Red Dao people have had a strict etiquette. Waking days often have to get up earlier than usual and prepare all the seeds that the family often sow in a pan to roast with the meaning of killing insects while still in the egg so that there is no muscle. The association broke out, causing damage to plants ”, – Ms. Trieu Thi Tiep said. After being roasted, the seeds can be eaten and spread to vegetable gardens and rice fields to see off pests. The hand spread the seeds while saying, “Today is a good day, the family has fully prepared the seeds and also done the eradication of pests. So I would like to send off the pests that are not harmful to the family plant ”. Get rid of pests by roasting the seeds. After completing this work, the new woman and her family have breakfast before going to farm work. The hard days are not the same as those of the Yen Bai Red Dao such as: abstaining from the god of thunder, the god of the wind or abstaining from tigers …, people are not allowed to do farm work, but only rest at home. , visit friends, neighbors, and especially do not make any loud noises. On the contrary, after completing the strict procedures, people still continue to do their daily jobs. “The grinds are not strict, like the great taboo days like the god of thunder, the god of the wind, or the day of abstaining from the tiger. On a good day, the family still goes to work normally, but before going to work, it is necessary to eliminate pests, that is, to roast all the seeds that the family has planted. This practice is still practiced by family and neighbors every year, ”added Thieu Thi Sinh, Lung Ha Hamlet, Phuc Loi Commune, Luc Yen District, Yen Bai Province. Nowadays, science and technology have been more developed, Yen Bai Red Dao people also know how to apply technical advances in preventing harmful pests and diseases, increasing crop productivity and quality. However, the strict tradition is still promoted by the Dao people here, such as reminding their children and grandchildren about a way to protect plants against the harm of their fellow pests from ancient times./.