Exciting holidays among Chinese Miao ethnic group
Who are the Miao?
Inhabiting the mountainous south and southwestern China, the Miao like to enjoy themselves during their happy holidays. They visit relatives and neighbors to sing, dance, and have big meals together. For young people, holidays are a good occasion to look for their significant other. 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 give their house a general cleaning, and prepare some special food like rice wine, bean curd, and sticky rice paste. Women are happy with sewing new clothing for their family, especially for their children.
On New Year’s Eve, everybody stays up until midnight, then they light firecrackers to welcome dragons into their home. They will have a ceremony held after daybreak to worship their forebears. 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 their neighbors' home to say: "Happy New Year!".
On the first two days of the New Year, people are not allowed to cut wood on the mountains, or do cleaning work at home. Women won't cook, but men do.
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 make good use of the nine days of their new year. It's the golden time for young people to get married.
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 is a little red bag with bonus inside. A man declares the beginning of the festival, and a pole climbing game starts. The man who first reach the tip of the pole and catch the small bag, while playing his Lusheng instrument, will gain the reward. Climbing a pole while playing an instrument is quite difficult! Made from peeled pine timber, the pole is slender, smooth, and long. 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 like to show others their outstanding sewing skills and the men compete with their pals to see who has the terrific physical strength.
Youngsters will at this time go out seeking 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 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 comes in mid-March of the lunar calendar.
On March 13th, Miao girls go to climb the mountains and look for some eatable flowers and leaves to dye their food. They then prepare sweet and colorful glutinous rice. The rice has five different colors. 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 to fish mountain streams. In the afternoon they will buy a duck and duck eggs to prepare a big meal. 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 like silver bracelets, as this is a symbol of beauty and status in Miao culture.
Four days later, this Miao holiday is over. Various games and activities are held during this time, like horse races, bullfights, song competitions, and so on.
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. Some special things are put in the basket to show how they like the men. Cotton means they will always have their partner in their mind. A bunch of pine leaves implies they like to have some needles and thread. Pepper or garlic means the relationship won't work out.
The next year, when the men come again, they will bring some silk in these baskets for the girls.
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 paddle their boats in the shape of dragons on a lake or river, with drums beaten and loud firecrackers 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.