With the direction of organizing a four-season festival, the Huế Festival 2024, themed "Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development," will feature continuous activities throughout the year. It will commence with the theatrical reenactment of the Nguyễn Dynasty Court Rituals on January 1, 2024, and conclude with the Countdown Program on December 31, 2024, with a highlight being the Huế Festival Week from June 7 to June 12, 2024.
The lively drum performance and dragon dance set the stage for the program.
Thừa Thiên Huế has been a pioneer in organizing a contemporary and nationally recognized festival with international reach. Over more than 24 years of existence and development, the Huế Festival has evolved into a noteworthy event within the global festival landscape.
Speaking at the announcement of the Huế Festival 2024, Mr. Hoàng Việt Trung, Director of the Conservation Center of Huế Imperial City, stated: "The Huế Festival 2024 holds particular significance in the context of Thừa Thiên Huế's efforts to achieve the goal of becoming a centrally governed city based on heritage conservation, leveraging the values of the imperial heritage and the cultural identity of Huế, with a focus on cultural, heritage, ecological, landscape, environmentally friendly, and smart characteristics. This is also an opportunity for Huế's cultural heritage to be concentratedly promoted, creating a powerful ripple effect in the community, with the core being the world heritage sites in the Imperial City. To preserve traditional values, the selection, research, and organization of the restoration of architectural heritage associated with various festivals in Huế over the years have left a significant mark on the development of local culture and tourism."
According to the plan, the Spring Festival "Imperial Spring" (taking place from January to March) includes royal festivals, traditional ceremonies, and distinctive folk festivals. The highlight of this period is the announcement of the Huế Festival 2024 and the theatrical reenactment of the Nguyễn Dynasty Court Rituals, along with various Lunar New Year activities, encompassing both imperial and folk customs. The celebrations feature traditional Tet spaces, cultural activities, and entertainment reflecting the ancient capital of Huế, combined with commemorations of the Liberation Day of Thừa Thiên Huế.
Moving on to the Summer Festival "Capital Shining" (from April to June), the Festival Week of Huế 2024 with the theme "Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development," scheduled from June 7 to June 12, 2024, serves as a focal point. This period will showcase a variety of cultural activities, performances, and events aimed at integrating and developing the cultural heritage of Huế.
The Autumn Festival "Huế in Autumn" (from July to September) will feature Mid-Autumn Festival activities such as the International Lantern Festival Huế 2024, coupled with exhibitions, lantern parades, and lion dance performances.
The Winter Festival "Winter in Huế" (from October to December) will introduce new festival activities, creating a lively and warm winter atmosphere in Huế. Various forms of entertainment and attractions will be offered for tourists during their stay in the ancient capital of Huế. The highlight of this season includes International Music Week and the Countdown Program to welcome the New Year.
Local residents and tourists alike find delight in capturing images of the Ban Sóc ceremony during the program.
In addition to the main events, the Huế Festival 2024 features numerous supporting programs, including festivals, celebrations, exhibitions, and displays organized by various entities and individuals from both within and outside the country. There are also domestic and international sports competitions, as well as performances by art clubs, bands, and orchestras, catering to the local population and visitors at public spaces such as the Horn House, parks, and pedestrian streets. All these elements come together to create a diverse and rich Huế Festival 2024, both in terms of content and the variety of presentation methods.
To kick off this year's Huế Festival, the Ban Sóc ceremony, executed by the Conservation Center of Huế Imperial City, was staged in a theatrical format. The Ban Sóc ceremony, a traditional calendar distribution event from the Nguyễn Dynasty, used to be regularly organized at the end of the lunar year. In ancient Vietnam, where agriculture played a crucial role, the lunar calendar held significant importance in people's lives. It served as a tool for tracking time and weather patterns, aiding in agricultural activities and helping to adapt to seasonal changes and prevent natural disasters.
Annually, after the Khâm Thiên Giám finished compiling the calendar, the imperial court conducted the Ban Sóc ceremony under the guidance of two officials from the Department of Rites and Khâm Thiên Giám. The calendars were then presented to the royal family for use, distributed to officials in the Imperial City and various regions, and further disseminated among the general population.
Originally, the Ban Sóc ceremony was held at the Thai Hoa Palace courtyard. However, in the year of Tân Sửu 1841, Emperor Minh Mạng directed the ceremony to be conducted for the first time at Ngọ Môn Gate. This shift in venue added historical significance to the ceremony and highlighted the adaptability of traditions over time.
Wearing the traditional áo dài ngũ thân, participants can immerse themselves in the cultural festival of the Nguyễn Dynasty at the Huế Festival 2024.
The reenactment of the Ban Sóc ceremony aims to capture the humane spirit of ancient times, providing an opportunity for tourists and the local people of Huế to experience the heritage of the ancient capital on the first day of the new year. This cultural celebration holds the promise of bringing people together, fostering a sense of connection to the rich history and traditions of Huế. It symbolizes a hopeful start to the new year, filled with cultural significance and the anticipation of what lies ahead.