Held annually on the 10th day of the first lunar month in Cầu Cả Village, the military feast ritual is a longstanding traditional cultural practice closely associated with the Cầu Cả Village Festival and the spiritual life of the community in the Cổ Loa area.

According to local tradition, this day commemorates the victory of An Dương Vương and the ceremony of rewarding the soldiers of the Âu Lạc State. The ritual expresses gratitude and reverence for the King and previous generations who contributed to building and defending the country, while also conveying wishes for a peaceful new year, favorable weather, and a prosperous and fulfilling life for the people.

On the 10th day of the first lunar month – one day before the main festival – villagers hold the military feast ceremony in the courtyard of the communal house. The offerings are solemnly arranged in the center of the courtyard and include a whole boiled pig, a tray of sticky rice and rice wine, and a container of water. After the chief officiant finishes reading the ceremonial text, ten healthy middle-aged men, dressed in traditional áo the tunics and khăn xếp turbans, stand on either side and perform the ritual of carrying the pig backwards while loudly chanting “Thắng to” (Great Victory), recreating the victorious spirit of the past.

The military feast ritual

Following this, the designated participants quickly carry the pig, sticky rice and water into the communal house, while the last person runs after them carrying a rolled-up mat, creating a lively atmosphere while maintaining the solemnity required by traditional village customs. At the end of the ceremony, the sacrificial pig is distributed among the villagers to be shared and enjoyed at the communal house, symbolizing the sharing of blessings and good fortune at the beginning of spring.

Villagers sharing the ceremonial offerings

According to ancient custom, the sacrificial pig was entrusted to the village festival organizer to raise throughout the year. It had to be a pure black ỉ pig, with no white hairs, ensuring purity according to folk beliefs. Today, purebred ỉ pigs have become almost extinct due to crossbreeding. Nevertheless, the military feast ritual continues to be preserved and maintained by the community as a distinctive symbol of local cultural identity.

The military feast ritual not only recreates the heroic spirit of the nation's founding era but also helps strengthen community solidarity, educate younger generations in the tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source”, and preserve and promote the distinctive cultural values of the historically rich land of Cổ Loa.

CO LOA HISTORIC SITE MANAGEMENT BOARD