San Diu ethnic group
Customs and habits
The San Diu house is built level
with the ground. The roof is usually covered with thatch or tile, the walls are
built of bricks, and the houses are clustered closely together in each village.
The husband (father) is the head of the family. The children take the family
name of the father and only sons have the right of inheritance. The parents
also decide when their children should marry. The funeral ceremony of the San
Diu has many rites. The San Diu worships their ancestors and the God of the
Kitchen. They hold many annual ceremonies usually before crop planting, after
crop planting, after the new rice matures, and when they need to pray for rain.
Culture
The San Diu language belongs to the
Han Group. The San Diu sings alternating songs (soong co) during cultural
activities and at festivals. They have many musical instruments such as horns,
clarinets, drums, flutes, cymbals, and castanets. They also like to play many
games such as walking on sticks, a game involving sticks, badminton in the San
Diu way, and tug-of-war.
Costumes
The San Diu has gradually adopted
the Kinh style of dress.
Economy
The San Diu engage in rice farming
practices through submerging their fields, animal and forest exploitation,
fishing, fish breeding, tile and brick making, blacksmithing, and basketry. The
San Diu also manufactures the no-wheel "quet" cart drawn by a buffalo
to transport goods.
