THE PRACTICE OF "KILLING PESTS AND WORMS"
The practice of “killing pests and worms” during Đoan Ngọ
In the popular belief especially in olden times, there are flat worms and parasites in human digestive system. Unless they are killed, these kinds of worms will reproduce quickly and pose a threat to human life. However, getting rid of them is by no means easy and can not be done at our own will at any time. These worms will only rise on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month at which point measures must be taken to eliminate them. People often eat fermented glutinous rice, fruits, pastries like bánh gio to kill worms and become more healthy.
THE PRACTICE OF "KILLING PESTS AND WORMS"
BANH GIO
Banhgio (pyramidal cake), also known as banh u tro, banh nang, is an indispensable traditional cake of the Doan Ngo festival, it is said to be a product to offer to the King.
The famous Banhgio were from Ha Mo village (Hanoi), Dac So (Hanoi), Tay Dinh (Vinh Phuc), Xuan Lung (Bac Ninh), Quang Yen (Quang Ninh), Thanh Son (Phu Tho), Yen Lang (Thanh Hoa),...
Ingredients:
- Sticky rice; phryniumleaves/ banana leaves
- Tro (ash) water: Herbs producingtrowater to deped on the region: grapefruit peel, sesame, mistletoe, castor-oil, bead-tree peel
The cake is made from glutinous sticky rice soaked with trowater and wrapped by phrynium leaves, banana leaves. However, the difference of cakes among villages is due to the use of different herbs.
THE PRACTICE OF "KILLING PESTS AND WORMS"
FERMENTED STICKY RICE
In the ancient Thang Long city, the fermented sticky rice of To village was the most famous in the Nhue river are (now Ta Thanh Oai commune, Thanh Tri district).
Ingredients:
- Sticky rice only rubbed rice husk, not leave rice brain.
- Alcohol yeast made from rice flour and traditional medicine.
Process:
- The rice is clean, drained, and steamed twice (the first time is called the go-to 45’, the second time is called the back 30-35'), let it cool.
- Keep rice with yeast for 3 days. Fermented sticky rice will be tender, round, plump, secreting a yellow-brown, fragrant and sweet mash liquor.
When eating, sticky rice is scooped into small cups or wrapped in lotus leaves, then sprinkled with mash liquor to eat.
THE PRACTICE OF "KILLING PESTS AND WORMS"
Floating cake
Floating cake or a sweetened porridge is a delicious dish from glutinous rice presented on a worshipping tray and a feast table of Doan Ngo Tet. The round cakes are made of smooth, well-stuffed sticky dough that covered a green bean stuffing in the center. That would be not abow of a deliciousfloating cakewithout the taste of sugar, sesame, ginger and coconut. This kind of cake is commonly eaten in Doan Ngo Tet because they think that the dishes from glutinous rice have a good effect onkilling bad insects.
