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Colorful Chinese Miao holidays: relaxation and excitement
Who are the Miao?
Residing in the mountainous south and southwestern China, the Miao minority group have holidays in each month. They visit relatives and neighbors to sing, dance, and have big meals together. Holidays are also the best time for young people to look for their partners. Girls are especially beautiful on such occasions, with their huge sets of silver jewelry and embroidered garments.
The Miao New Year
Because they follow the lunar calendar, the Miao New Year can come in September, October, or November. Before the New Year, each family clean their house thoroughly, and cook some particular food such as sticky rice paste, bean curd, and rice wine. Women at this time will prepare new clothes for their family.
People stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve, then they go outside to light firecrackers to invite dragons into their home. At dawn, they will hold a ceremony to worship their forefathers. A cow is regarded as an auspicious animal, so its nose will be put some wine to show that people respect it. After breakfast, people go to see their neighbors and say to each other "Happy New Year!".
On the first two days of the New Year, cutting woods on the mountains, or any cleaning work at home is strictly prohibited. Women are liberated from housework like cooking, and men will cook for their family.
Girls dress up with beautiful silver ornaments and embroidered garments to go to meet the boys. Some young men will go to other villages on foot to join in different kinds of social activities.
The Miao make good use of the nine days of their new year. A lot of people choose to get married during this time.
Huashan Festival
There are various Huashan, or “Flower Mountain,” festivals held in different Miao areas. Some occurs in May, while others in August or January on the lunar calendar.
On that day, a pole adorned with colorful flags is placed at the heart of a playing field. At the top of the pole is a little red bag with bonus inside. The pole climbing starts when a man announces the beginning of the festival. The man who can climb to the top of the pole first to take the pouch, while playing his Lusheng wind instrument, will get the reward. It's difficult for anyone to climb a pole whilst play an instrument! The pole is quite smooth, slender, and long, as it's made from peeled pine timber. The champion will become the admiration of other people, especially the girls.
People can also enjoy other interesting games like archery and horse races, which are held at the same time. Women are busy showing each other their excellent sewing skills and the men like to show off their strength and physical prowess.
This is also good occasion for single young people to seek for lovers. If they find someone who grab their hearts, they will give some private things to each other, such as a waistband or silver hair pin. Older people go to see friends, and may talk about many things like fishing and farming. The festival is over in the late evening.
Sister Festival: Miao Valentine’s Day
The Miao Sister Festival is also called Miao Valentine’s Day, as it’s a holiday for single women to invite young men from other villages to meet. The festival happens in mid-March on the lunar calendar.
On March 13th, girls go to select some particular leaves and flowers growing in the mountains to dye their food. They then prepare sweet and colorful glutinous rice. There are five different colors mixed together in the rice. Blue typifies wealth, yellow stands for a good harvest, white indicates their true and pure love, green means their pretty hometown, and red hopes their village will go for prosperity.
The second day they go fishing to find some shrimp and fish. In the afternoon they will buy a duck and duck eggs to prepare a big meal. The duck is indispensable to their meal, because a duck can swim which implies the girls' freedom to see men from the other side of the river.
When the men come in the evening, they will eat together while chat to exchange their ideas. The girls will be sure to wear their most beautiful silver jewelry like silver bracelets, as this is a symbol of beauty and status in Miao culture.
The holiday is over on March 17th. Lots of activities and games are held during that time, like dance competition, horse fighting, bullfights, etc.
A basket of fish, meat and glutinous rice will be sent to the men by the girls before the men go back to their home. They will probably place some particular things in the basket to tell if they like the men or not. Cotton means they will miss the men who go back home. A bundle of pine leaves indicates they need some thread and needles. Pepper or garlic indicates they won't have future.
When the men come to visit again the next year, they will bring the girls some silk in these baskets.
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival falls on May 5 of the lunar calendar, and thousands of people gather together to watch the exciting boat races. The rival teams row their boats in the shape of dragons on a lake or river, while drums are beaten loudly and firecrackers are set off from the banks.
April 8 Festival
The April 8th festival is held to remember the Miao’s hero Yanu, who died on this day while fighting against an invading tribe. The Miao will hold some activities like performing the lion dance, and playing Lusheng music.
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