Exciting holidays among Chinese Miao ethnic group

Posted August 22nd, 2009 by admin

Who are the Miao?

Inhabiting the mountainous south and southwestern China, the Miao like to enjoy themselves during their happy holidays. They sing, dance, and prepare big meals to feast on with friends and neighbors. 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. With the New Year coming, the Miao will give their house a thorough clean, and prepare some specific dishes like bean curd, sausage, like sticky rice paste. Women are happy with sewing new clothing for their family, especially for their children.

All people stay up until midnight, and then they bring dragons to their home with firecrackers lighted. A ceremony will be held at dawn to worship their forefathers. The nose of a cow is put on some wine to prove that people have respect for this hardworking animal. 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, the Miao don't do any cleaning work at home, and they are forbidden to chop wood on the mountains. Women don't need to cook, but men have to do that.

Girls dress up with beautiful silver ornaments and embroidered garments to go to meet the boys. Some young fellows even go to other villages by walking to take part in various social activities.

The Miao fully enjoy themselves during 9 days of new year. Many people have their weddings held during this time.

Huashan Festival

There are various Huashan, or “Flower Mountain,” festivals held in different Miao areas. Some are in August, and others are in January or May of the lunar calendar.

On that day, a pole is garnished with colorful flags and put at the heart of a playing field. At the top of the pole there is a small red bag with money inside. With a man announcing the beginning of the festival, a pole climbing games gets going. 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 not easy to climb a pole and at the same time to play an instrument! The pole, made of peeled pine wood, is tall, smooth, and thin. The champion will become the admiration of other people, especially the girls.

During the festival, people also have other sports, such as archery and horse races held. Women show great interest in exhibiting their perfect sewing skills and the men are busy displaying their superior physical strength.

By singing love songs, youngsters will use this time to look for lovers. If they find someone they are interested in, they will give each other some presents, like a silver hairpin or waistband. Elderly people go to meet friends and express their opinions about farming. The festival lasts until late in the 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 occurs 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. Then they are busy with preparing colorful and sweet glutinous rice. There are five different colors mixed together in the rice. Green symbolizes their beautiful hometown, red indicates the prosperity of their village, yellow wishes for a golden harvest, blue or violet stands for wealth, and white implies their pure and true love.

The next day they go fishing to catch some fish and freshwater shrimp. In the afternoon they will be busy with preparing a luxurious meal including fish, duck, and duck eggs. Their meal can't lack the duck, because a swimming duck means the girls are able to meet men from the other side of the river.

In the evening, when the men finally come, they will dine together, then go outside to talk and sing songs to express their feelings. 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.

Four days later, this Miao holiday is over. Many different kinds of activities and sports are held at this time, such as bullfight and horse races.

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 pack of pine leaves suggests that they want men to send them some needles and thread as present. Pepper or garlic means the relationship won't work out.

The men will bring some silk in these baskets for the girls when they come again next year.

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 competing teams row their boats in the shape of dragons on a river or lake, while drums are beat and loud 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 get together to hold traditional activities like playing Lusheng music, singing, and performing the lion dance.

Tags: asia, Chinese holidays, Christmas, holidays, Miao culture, new year, pendants, silver bracelets, silver earrings, silver jewelry, silver necklaces, silver ornaments, silver rings, Valentine's Day