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Interesting Chinese Miao Valentine's Day and their other holidays
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. 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 at this time will prepare new clothes for their family.
Everyone stays up until midnight on New Year's Eve, then they take dragons into their home by lighting firecrackers. They will have a ceremony held after daybreak to worship their forebears. Some people put wine on the nose of a cow to express their appreciation for the hard work the cow has done during the past year. After breakfast, people go to their neighbors' home to say: "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 males walk farther to other villages to attend various kinds of social activities.
The Miao fully enjoy themselves during 9 days of 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 decorated with colorful flags is set up in the center of a playground. On top of the pole is a red pouch with reward 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 not easy to climb a pole and at the same time to play an instrument! 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.
Other games, like horse races, bullfights, and archery, are also held during the festival. Women like to show others their outstanding sewing skills and the men compete with their pals to see who has the terrific physical strength.
This is also good occasion for single young people to seek for lovers. If they find one, they will give each other some personal things, like an embroidered handkerchief or waistband. Elderly people go to meet friends and express their opinions about 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 falls on mid-March of the lunar calendar.
On March 13th, girls go to pick some specific flowers and leaves in the mountains for their food dyes. They then prepare sweet and colorful glutinous rice. The rice is characterized by its five distinctive colors. 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. After get some duck and duck eggs, they will cook a big meal in the afternoon. 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.
The holiday is over on March 17th. 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 specific things are placed in the basket to show their feelings of the men. Cotton means they will miss their presence. A pack of pine leaves suggests that they want men to send them some needles and thread as present. Pepper or garlic indicates they won't have future.
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 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. Some tradtional activities will be held such as playing Lusheng music, singing, dancing, and performing the lion dance.
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