Swing-riding game in spring festivals

Updated: 10:12, 06/02/2017

(BGO) – Among traditional games, swing-riding always holds special appeal not only for its benefit in physical strength improvement, but also for its cultural meaning as a wish for good luck on the early days of spring. As time goes by, many festivals of Bac Giang province still keep the game or revive it, making local festivals more exciting.

Swing-riding at Xuong Giang Festival (Bac Giang City).

Swing-riding game is usually seen at spring festivals. In villages with the tradition of the game, preparations are made many days ahead of Tet (Lunar New Year), on the 26th or 28th of the twelfth lunar month. A group of young men are assigned by villagers to look for bamboo to erect the swing poles at the ground in front of the village’s pagoda or temple. Attached on each pole is a red scarf or a prize, and participants need to swing high enough to grasp it in order to become the winner. According to popular belief, those who can get the scarf and the prize will be blessed with good luck throughout the year, therefore everyone is excited to join in and determined to earn luck for themselves.

At the festival of Do Village in Cuong Son Commune and Noi Dong Festival in Yen Son Commune (Luc Nam District), swing-riding is an important cultural activity. Nguyen Cong Duong (55) in Yen Son Commune said that the Noi Dong Festival, which is co-organised by three villages of Noi Chua, Noi Dinh and Trai Hai, on the 15th day of the first lunar month every year. Since he was young, Duong and his friends have joined this game. The festival is often crowded with local people. Aside from cultural and spiritual activities, swing-riding always attracts a lot of spectators. There are many ways to play, but the most popular are individual and double styles. The game played by a pair of one male and one female is regarded as the most interesting and joyous. The couple stand on the swing facing each other, using their hands to hold the swing rope while swinging with the full force of their legs. The participants have to be calm, strong and courageous, because they may fall or slip.

The game of swing-riding has now spread from the countryside to towns and urban areas. Those who have taken part in Xuong Giang Festival or the annual festival at Vinh Ninh Village in Hoang Van Thu Ward of Bac Giang City surely cannot forget the happy image of a couple riding the swing. And the game is not only for the young, as old people are also eager to join. On the 26th day of the 12th month of the previous lunar year, a large swing was erected at Xuong Giang Festival. Do Quang Ty, Chairman of Xuong Giang Ward’s Association of War Veterans said that swinging competitions used to be held in local festivals, but it was forgotten for a while. The localities have restored the game in the recent 10 years. This year, the Association of War Veterans is assigned to go to Xuan Huong Commune of Lang Giang to select big, beautiful, insect-free bamboo trees, for erecting swings at Xuong Giang festival to entertain local people and tourists.

In Bac Giang City’s Dinh Ke Ward, the local community in Phu My 2 residential area erected a swing near the communal ground half a month before Tet as part of activities of their first ever spring festival. Even before the festival was opened, children and adults alike gathered in the afternoon to play swinging, creating a happy and exciting atmosphere.

Nguyen Trong Bac, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism said that Bac Giang boasts a long-standing culture and history, therefore various traditional games are maintained. The swing-riding game is an old custom that has been conserved and promoted in many villages. It is a popular game that attracts many people. The Department has encouraged localities to maintain and restore traditional games. Before the festivals season, the Department requires localities to organise activities that involve traditional games with local characteristics, including the game of swing-riding, with the aim of creating a joyful, healthy and exciting atmosphere. By participating in the games, people and tourists can show their skills, get some training in physical strength and flexibility as well as avoid harmful hobbies.

Nguyen Huong