Buffalo Fight Do Son

Through the researching and learning about my family from the family tree project, I have been able to know a lot about my family history either culture. Well, I did this kind of project many times, but each time, I always wanted to put something new in to my project. So this time, I decided to introduce you and everybody about the buffalo fight Do Son, Hai Phong- the traditional festival of my hometown, where my dad came from. It was very interesting for me too. I didn’t know about this before, it was when my mom told me about that so.

The buffalo fight of Do Son happened every year on 9/8, according to the lunar calendar. The preparation for this festival is very elaborate. Buffalo that chosen for the fight had to have big breast, strong legs, pointed horns…Also, they had to be over 5 years old or more. To fine buffalos like that was hard, but to train buffalo to fight is much harder, that’s why the trainers had to be very skillful for these buffalos. Fighting buffalos lived separately, neither of them lived together.

The opening of the festival took from morning till noon, everybody danced and sang. Followed by that were the 12 buffalos had been cleaned and wore the red clothes, their horn covered by pink and yellow ribbons. After the ritual dance of 24 men, 2 trainers came out along with their fighting buffalos to the middle of the stadium. When the signal began, the two buffalo crashed to each other, with skilled movement. Audiences cheered and yelled a lot!

The festival was exited. After the eliminated round, there was just only 6 buffalo left. Then they will fight in pair. When the winner buffalo had been chose, they will kill those to eat. I know it hear quite weird. But it is my hometown traditional so, that’s it. If you have a chance to visit hai phong around lunar august, don’t forget to watch this festival.