Interesting Chinese Miao Valentine’s Day and their other holidays
Who are the Miao?
Although living in the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, the Miao ethnic group know how to enjoy life during their colorful and multiple 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. Before the New Year, people have a general house-cleaning, and prepare special food like glutinous rice paste, rice wine, sausage, and bean curd. Women will make new clothes for their family members.
On New Year’s Eve, everybody stays up until midnight, then they light firecrackers to welcome dragons into their home. After daybreak, they will hold a ceremony to worship their ancestors. The nose of a cow is put on some wine to prove that people have respect for this hardworking animal. After breakfast, people visit neighbors to send New Year’s wishes and greetings.
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 won’t cook, but men do.
Girls dress up with beautiful silver ornaments like silver earrings 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 New Year lasts nine days. 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 January, while others are in May or August on the lunar calendar.
On that day, a pole decorated with colorful flags is set up in the center of a playground. At the top of the pole there is a small red bag with money inside. The pole climbing starts when a man announces the beginning of the festival. The man who first get to the top of the pole to take the small bag, and at the same time playing his Lusheng instrument, will win the reward. Climbing a pole while playing an instrument is quite difficult! The pole is smooth, tall, and slender because it's made of peeled pine wood. The champion will become the admiration of other people, especially the girls.
The exciting bullfights and horse races are also held during this festival. Women like to show each other their great sewing skills and the men are busy displaying their physical strength.
This is also good occasion for single young people to seek for lovers. If they find someone they are interested in, they will give each other some presents, like a silver hairpin or waistband. Older people go to visit friends and exchange their ideas 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 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. Then they are busy with preparing colorful and sweet glutinous rice. The rice is characterized by its five distinctive colors. Green represents their lovely hometown, yellow implies a golden harvest, blue indicates rich, white stands for their true love, and red wishes their village will have a bright future.
The second day they go fishing to find some shrimp and fish. After get some duck and duck eggs, they will cook a big meal in the afternoon. The duck is needed because a swimming duck symbolizes the girls’ ability 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, as this is a symbol of beauty and status in Miao culture.
The holiday is over on March 17th. During this time, various activities and games like song competition and bullfights are held.
Before the men leave, the girls will give them bamboo baskets with glutinous rice, fish, meat, and duck eggs as presents. Some specific things are placed in the basket to show their feelings of the men. Cotton means they will miss their partner. A pack of pine leaves suggests that they want men to send them some needles and thread as present.
There are more interesting things about Miao Valentine's Day and other Miao holidays. Go to this website to learn more about Miao culture and see beautiful pictures of fine Miao silver ornaments.
