Every night in late summer and early autumn, a very bright star appears in the southeast of Lhasa. At this time, the Tibetan people began the annual bathing festival. Legend has it that this star only appears in seven nights. Why do people designate seven nights when stars appear as bathing festivals? A long time ago, there was a famous doctor on the grassland. His name is Yuto Yun Dan Gombo. His medical skill is brilliant, and he can cure any intractable diseases. Therefore, King Chisong Dêzain of Tibet asked him to be a doctor to treat Tibetan kings and concubines. However, after Yuto entered the palace, he still couldn't forget the people on the grassland. He often uses the time when he goes out to collect medicines to treat people. One year, a terrible plague prevailed, and many herders were bedridden, and some were killed. At this time, the Jade Rabbit ran on the vast grassland to treat the sick herdsmen. He collected all kinds of drugs from the old forest of the snow-capped mountains, and whoever ate them would be cured. I wonder how many dying patients have recovered. The name of Dr. Yuto is widely read on the grassland, and people call him the King of Medicine. Unfortunately, Dr. Yuto passed away. After his death, a terrible plague occurred on the grassland, which was more serious than the previous one, and many people died. The dying herdsmen had to kneel on the ground and pray to heaven, hoping that God would bless them. Coincidentally, one day, a woman tortured by illness had a dream. In the dream, Dr. Yuto said to her, "Tomorrow night, when a bright star appears in the southeast sky, you can take a bath in Jiqu River. Just take a bath. " Sure enough, after the woman bathed in Jiqu River, her illness was immediately eliminated. A yellow and thin patient turned into a healthy person with a red face after taking a shower. After the news spread, all the patients came to take a bath in the river. All the patients who took a bath eliminated their diseases and recovered their health. People say that this strange star was changed by Dr. Yuto. In heaven, Dr. Yuto saw that the grassland people were attacked by the plague again, and he could not come to earth to treat the people, so he turned himself into a star, turned the river into a potion by starlight, and let people bathe in the river to drive away the disease. Because God only gave Uto seven days, this star only appeared for seven days. Since then, the Tibetan people have designated these seven days as a bathing festival. At this time of the year, herders all over the country bathe in the nearby rivers. It is said that after bathing, people will be healthy and happy and will not get sick.

Tujia people celebrate the new year

Chinese New Year is the most important festival of Tujia nationality, which is more grand and lasts the longest than other Tujia festivals in terms of content and form. Tujia people celebrate the New Year one day earlier than Han people, that is, the month is 29 days older than the twelfth lunar month and 28 days younger than the twelfth lunar month. Tujia people say that this way of celebrating the New Year is one day earlier than that of Han people. There are many theories about the reasons why the border areas of Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing and Guizhou catch up with the Spring Festival. Among them, there are two most important and extensive arguments: one is the theory of fighting against aliens. Because of the frequent wars at that time, Tujia people found that the enemy was going to sneak attack during the Chinese New Year, but in Tujia areas, it is very unlucky for a person to fail in crops year after year, and it will be unfavorable in the coming year. In order to crack down on the invading enemies and let everyone have a reunion year, the leaders also asked everyone to celebrate the New Year one day in advance so as to have enough energy to defeat the invading enemies. The day after the Spring Festival, the enemy really came. The enemy didn't know that Tujia people were fully prepared. Under the beating of aggressive Tujia people, the invading enemy was beaten out of the water. Tujia people have won a great victory in the battle against invading enemies, because this victory comes from preparing for the Spring Festival in advance. In order to commemorate this festival, Tujia people celebrate the New Year one day in advance, which has been passed down from generation to generation and has become a kind of New Year for Tujia people. The other is the theory of fighting against the enemy. Legend has it that during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, when Japan invaded China, Tujia people were busy preparing for the New Year. Suddenly, the imperial court issued an imperial edict to the toast king, mobilizing Tujia soldiers to rush to the southeast coast to fight against the Japanese army, so it was impossible to celebrate the New Year on time. In order to make these officers and men who are about to leave live for a year, the toast king decided to celebrate the New Year in advance. After the officers and men were reunited with their families, Tusi Wang immediately took these officers and men to the front line of the Anti-Japanese War, arrived at the designated place on time to participate in the Anti-Japanese War, and defeated the Japanese in one fell swoop and won a major victory. In order to commemorate the victory of this campaign, and to express the deep memory of the broad masses of the people for the Japanese soldiers, Tujia people have to advance one day every New Year. Over time, this has become the New Year custom of Tujia people.

Zhao Sai