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Lesson Transcript

Culture Class: Holidays in Vietnam Season 1 Lesson 23 - Phu Day Festival
Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Vietnam series at VietnamesePod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Vietnamese holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 23 - Phu Day Festival.
The Phu Day Festival, or hội phủ Giày, is often held in Nam Định province in lunar March. During this time, visitors from all regions head toward this area to join in rituals honoring the Liễu Hạnh Princess, one of the four princesses. In this lesson, we will tell you how the Phu Day Festival takes place!
Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question?
What recent news occured in connection with the Phu Day Festival?
If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.
The Phu Day Festival is held to celebrate the Goddess Liễu Hạnh, also referred to as “the holy mother.” The festival attracts visitors through a harmonious combination of solemn rites and unique traditional cultural activities, particularly the Palanquin Procession Ceremony, or lễ rước kiệu, which is often considered the highlight of the Phu Day Festival.
In the procession, there are also beautiful performances by two dance teams, separated into the dragon, or rồng, team, and the lion, or sư tử, team. According to some locals, the dragon dance always features a couple of blue and yellow dragons, which traditionally symbolize the prosperity of the country.
On March 7, a cultural activity called Hoa trương hội is held. This is an activity in which 100 people dressed in ancient costumes come together and use flags attached to sticks to form large Chinese characters. The person who conducts the flag raising is called the head of the flag raisers. This person directs the flag raisers, making sure they coordinate their flags properly to display the characters to the beat of pulsating gong drums.
Now it's time to answer our quiz question!
What recent news occured in connection with the Phu Day Festival?
Recently, on November 23, 2013, the Phu Day Festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
So listeners, how was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting?
Does your country have customs similar to this Festival?
Please leave a comment telling us at VietnamesePod101.com, and we’ll see you next time!

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