New Rice Festival Of The Ede 2024

The New Rice Festival of the Ede people in Vietnam is a celebration of the harvest season and a way to give thanks to the gods for a bountiful crop. This festival is held annually in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and is a significant cultural event for the Ede people.

Ede Ethnic Group: One of Vietnam's 54 diverse ethnic communities

The Ede people are an indigenous ethnic group in Vietnam, primarily residing in the Central Highlands region. With a rich cultural heritage and distinct traditions, the Ede people have contributed to the diverse tapestry of Vietnam's ethnic mosaic. Visitors to the Central Highlands have the opportunity to witness and appreciate the rich traditions and way of life of the Ede people, gaining a deeper understanding of Vietnam's ethnic diversity.

Ede people primarily live in the Central Highlands region

What you should know about the New Rice Festival of the Ede?

The New Rice Festival is one of the most important festivals of the Ede ethnic.

When will the festival of the Ede take place?

The New Rice Festival normally lasts from the end of December to the end of March of the new calendar year. According to traditional customs, the Ede people prepare to welcome the new year with a packed and bustling event based on the agricultural cycle.

The New Rice Festival of the Ede lasts from the end of December to the end of March

Meaning of the New Rice Festival

The New Rice Festival is an important spring festival for Ede villagers to worship the grain of rice given to the villagers by the god Yang, as well as to pray for a prosperous new year, good weather, and abundant crops.

The New Rice Festival is an important spring festival for Ede villagers

Rituals of the New Rice Festival of the Ede

The New Rice Festival occurs throughout Ede communities sequentially, not necessarily at the same time. Even within the same village, any house that cultivates early-ripening rice and harvests first may notify the village to organize a festival.

The Festival is celebrated uniquely in each family, according to tradition. However, the Ede people believe that the work of a family is also the shared work of the community. Many people from other families will visit and assist from early in the morning.

When the festival's final preparations are completed, people begin to arrive. Each family has a glass of wine to offer to the owner. Then they will be arranged in a long row in the center of the stilt house.

People will be in the stilt house at the New Rice Festival of the Ede

Following the greeting of relatives and friends with the drums at the opening of the New Rice Festival, a shaman performs a prayer ceremony on behalf of the owner, thanking the gods for the lucky crop. According to the ancient matriarchal ceremony, the first person to hold the wooden alcohol cup is ami, the woman with descendants and the oldest in the family. Following that, the alcohol must be given to the family's eldest daughter and other female relatives.

After the festival, everyone will gather in the festival part to enjoy numerous delicious and unique Ede ethnic dishes and wine. They dance, play, and sing around the campfire, creating a magical scene.

After the festival, everyone will dance, play, and sing around the campfire, creating a magical scene

The New Rice Festival of the Ede is a vibrant celebration that brings together communities, honors traditions, and showcases the rich cultural heritage of this indigenous ethnic group. It offers a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the spirit of gratitude, joy, and unity that accompanies the harvest season in Ede culture.