Who are the Miao?
Residing in the remote mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, the Miao know how to celebrate life during their exciting holidays. They sing, dance, and prepare big meals to feast on with friends and neighbors. 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. 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 at this time will prepare new clothes for their family.
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. 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 visit neighbors to send New Year’s wishes and greetings.
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 do housework like cooking, and 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 New Year lasts nine days. 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 is garnished with colorful flags and put at the heart of a playing field. On top of the pole is a red pouch with reward 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. 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 winner will be regarded as a hero, especially by the girls.
During the festival, people also have other sports, such as archery and horse races held. Women like to show others their outstanding sewing skills and the men compete with their pals to see who has the terrific physical strength.
By singing love songs, youngsters will use this time to look for lovers. If they find someone who grab their hearts, they will give some private things to each other, such as a waistband or silver hair pin. Elderly people go to see friends and exchange their thoughts about farming and current affairs. The festival won't be over until very 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 falls on mid-March of 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 ready to cook yummy,pleasant, and colorful 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. 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.
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. Many different kinds of activities and sports are held at this time, such as bullfight and horse races.
Before the men leave, the girls will give them bamboo baskets with glutinous rice, fish, meat, and duck eggs as presents. They will probably place some particular things in the basket to tell if they like the men or not. Cotton means they will always have their partner in their mind. A bundle of pine leaves indicates they need some thread and needles. Pepper or garlic tells their relationship is over.
When the men come to visit again the next year, they will bring the girls some silk in these baskets.
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. Some tradtional activities will be held such as playing Lusheng music, singing, dancing, and performing the lion dance.
Questionable Advertising Claims - How Much Do They Hurt Us?