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 sing, dance, and enjoy big meals with friends together. Holidays are especially a good time for youngsters 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. 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 will make new clothes for their family members.

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 see their neighbors and say to each other "Happy New Year!".

On the first two days of the New Year, no one is allowed to go to mountains to chop wood, cut grass, or even do any cleaning around the home. 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 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 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. As a man declares the kickoff of the festival, an exciting pole climbing games starts. The first man who climb to the top of the pole to catch the pouch, while playing Lusheng instrument, will have 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 like to show each other their great sewing skills and the men are busy displaying their physical strength.

Single young people will use the occasion to sing love song and look for lovers. And swap presents between each other when they find their lovers. Elderly people go to see friends and exchange their thoughts about farming and current affairs. The festival lasts a whole day and ends 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 occurs in mid-March on 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. Then they are ready to cook yummy,pleasant, and colorful glutinous rice. There are five different colors mixed together in the rice. 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. In the afternoon, they go to buy some duck and duck eggs to prepare a great 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 finally arrive in the evening, they will have dinner together, and go out to chat and sing love songs. 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 lasts four days until March 17th. Lots of activities and games are held during that time, like dance competition, horse fighting, bullfights, etc.

When the fellows leave, the girls will give them some glutinous rice, duck eggs, and meat contained in the bamboo baskets as presents. Some specific things are placed in the basket to show their feelings of the men. Cotton means they will miss their presence. A bunch of pine leaves means they want some needles and thread. 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 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 hold some activities like performing the lion dance, and playing Lusheng music.