Spring Festival of Ethnic Minorities

Kirgiz people - When the first month of the year appears, the Kirgiz people celebrate the "Noroz" festival, which is very similar to the Spring Festival of the Han people. During the festival, each family prepares rich meals according to their own ability and treats each other to celebrate. On the night of the festival, when the herds come back from the pasture, a fire made of Achnatherum splendens is lit in front of each yurt. People jump over it first, and then the animals jump over it, which indicates that disaster will be solved and difficulties will be solved in the new year. Both humans and animals are prosperous here.

Buyi people - at the end of the twelfth lunar month, every household smokes meat, stuffs sausages, roasts wine, makes glutinous rice cakes, rice crackers, and sews new clothes and handkerchiefs. On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, maltose and other fruits are given to the Kitchen God. Ask your husband to write couplets and post door gods and New Year pictures. On the evening of the 30th, the whole family, young and old, sit around the fire, first offering sacrifices to their ancestors, and then blessing each other and having a reunion dinner. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we put up lanterns at home, light them together at night, and hang them at the door. After the first day of the Lunar New Year, people began to visit each other to pay New Year greetings. Young men and women meet to "play the show" and express their love through singing; or they gather together to dance "flower bag" to the accompaniment of suona, yueqin, dongxiao, sisters' flute, bronze drum and other musical instruments. In some areas, the New Year is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and the "Little New Year" is celebrated on the 30th day of the first lunar month.

Tujia people - starting from two days before the first day of the first lunar month, the first day is called the big year and the second day is the small year. On New Year's Eve, each family lights a firewood, and everyone sits around listening to the old man telling stories and staying up until dawn. During the festival, "red yeast fish" is eaten to symbolize wealth and abundance, and large pots of stewed vegetables are also eaten, called combined dishes. On the third day of junior high school, a "hand-waving dance" party was held, with as many as 10,000 participants. In addition, there are dragon lantern performances, lion dances, lantern festivals, dramas, martial arts and other activities.

Zhuang nationality - from the 30th day of the lunar year to the second day of the first lunar month, three days. Anyone who works outside the home must go home before thirty. On New Year's Eve, every family kills chickens and ducks, steams pork belly, powdered meat, and makes barbecued pork. There are eight dishes for dinner, including "white chopped chicken" and stewed whole chicken. Every family has to stay up until midnight and set off firecrackers before going to bed. On the first and second day of the first lunar month, all guests must eat rice dumplings. The rice dumplings are filled with peeled mung beans and half-fat but not lean meat mixed with sauce. Most men and women sing antiphonal songs at this time, or play dreidel, dance, play ball games, or act.

The Dulong people, who live in Gongshan County, Nujiang River, Yunnan, mark the first heavy snowfall between November 12th every year as the beginning of the year. Since there is no fixed time, the day is chosen by the clan leader. , usually 3 to 5 days. During the festival, every household invites each other, has friendly exchanges, and holds entertainment activities at the same time.

The Hani people celebrate New Year twice a year. One is October Festival and the other is June Festival. The Hani calendar starts with October, which is the "New Year". On New Year's Day, people visit relatives and friends, seek marriage and get engaged. During the "June New Year Festival", animals are sacrificed to worship ancestors, and cultural and sports activities such as swinging, wrestling, and singing folk songs are carried out.

The Caddo people (a branch of the Hani ethnic group) - the Caddo people in Xinping County, Yunnan, celebrate the New Year on the sixth day of the first lunar month. Legend has it that in ancient times, brave Caddo youths went out to fight in order to resist foreign invasion. Before leaving, they left a message that the day they returned home, their new life would begin. After the war, due to the long journey, they did not return home until the sixth day of the New Year. People in my hometown designate this day as the beginning of the new year. During the New Year, they kill pigs and sheep and dance to celebrate.

The Pumi ethnic group - there are many Pumi ethnic groups in the northwestern Yunnan plateau. The sixth day of the twelfth lunar month is the first day of the year. On New Year's Eve, each village will fire three cannons and blow conches. Then the family gets together and eats sticky rice.

The Lemo people (the name of the Bai people) - mainly live in Bijiang County, Yunnan Province. They have their own methods of calculating the seasons, and the dates of the Spring Festival are also different. For example, when peach blossoms bloom, it is called March, and when lacquer leaves grow about five inches, it is called May. According to this calculation, there are thirteen months in a year, and March is called March Festival, which is equivalent to the Spring Festival of the Han people.

Jinuo people - the Jino people in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province call June in the Gregorian calendar the New Year's Day. Singers take turns singing to each other, and if they lose, they leave a piece of turban to sing to each other the next year. Every night during the New Year, the elderly and women enjoy wine and food while dancing the drum dance. Young men and women take this opportunity to fall in love and find their lovers.

Gelao people - the third day of March in the lunar calendar every year is the Spring Festival for the Gelao people. Because they live in places with cooler temperatures, spring does not begin until March when vegetation begins to sprout. At this time when spring plowing is about to be busy, everyone gathers together to celebrate the New Year and pray together to the ancestors and mountain gods for blessings, everything will go well and the harvest will be plentiful. And because Qingming Festival is often celebrated around the beginning of March, so the two festivals are celebrated together, so this day is designated as the Gelao Year, which is also the Spring Festival.

Yao Nationality - The Half-Moon Festival of the seventh lunar month every year is the most solemn festival for the Yao people - the Spring Festival. On the eve of the Half-Moon Festival, every household is very busy, and the sound of horns and laughter are everywhere inside and outside the village. Voice.

Han nationality - on the first day of the Lunar New Year, people do not sweep the floor, pour water outside, do not go through the back door, do not beat or scold children, and wish each other good luck, wealth, and all the best in the new year.

Manchu people - when the New Year is approaching, every family cleans the courtyard and puts up window grilles, couplets and the Chinese character "福". On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, every family erected a lantern pole more than six meters high. From the first to the sixteenth day of the lunar month, red lanterns were hung up every day. When making dumplings on New Year's Eve, it is better to make dumplings with more pleats. On the New Year's Eve, dumplings are cooked, and some are stuffed with copper coins. Those who eat them will have good luck. We have to pray twice during the Spring Festival, once on the eve of the New Year to bid farewell to the old year, and again on the New Year’s Day to welcome the New Year.

Competitions such as horse jumping and camel jumping will be held before the Spring Festival. There is also a lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Korean people—every household posts Spring Festival couplets, cooks all kinds of sumptuous meals, and eats "eight-treasure rice". On New Year's Eve, the whole family stays up all night, playing the gayageum and the dongxiao. At dawn, people put on festive costumes to pay New Year greetings to their elders. During the festival, men, women and children of all ages sing and dance to their heart's content, press the springboard and play tug-of-war. A traditional celebration gathering is held on the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month. Several elected elderly people board the wooden "moon-watching frame" and sing and dance accompanied by long drums, flutes and suonas.

Oroqen people - on New Year's Eve, the whole family sits around and has dinner together. Taste mountain delicacies, drink fine wine, and eat New Year’s dinner. Young people salute and kowtow to the elders of their family and close relatives. At midnight, people hold birch bark boxes or iron boxes around the stables several times to pray for the prosperity of the livestock. On the first day of the new year, we wear new clothes to greet each other and greet each other. Young men and women gather together to dance in circles. There are hunting dances, "red fruit" dances, "black bear fighting" dances, etc.

Hezhe tribe - on New Year's Eve, everyone is busy cooking New Year's dinner, cutting window grilles and putting up lanterns. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, girls, women and children put on new clothes embroidered with clouds, go to the homes of relatives and friends to pay New Year greetings, and entertain the guests with a "fish feast". There are hot and sour raw fish, crispy "fried fish hair" and salmon roe. Folk poets offer poems and tell stories to people. The women played "touch blind" and "throw bones". Teenagers compete in skiing, skating, target shooting, pitch ball and other competitions.

The Mongolian people—eat dumplings and set off firecrackers at midnight are the same as the Han people. In addition, people eat "hand-made meat" on New Year's Eve to show family reunion. In the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the younger generation toasts their elders with a "goodbye wine", and then the young men and women mount shuttle horses and ride in yurts. They kowtow to the elders and then drink and dance. Later, the young men and women also use this opportunity to hold horse racing competitions.

The Naxi people - during the New Year, people visit each other's relatives and friends, and take turns being guests. Young and middle-aged men organize lantern festivals and compete with other villages. Lantern festivals are held in cities and villages. The lantern festival programs perform national stories: such as "Aniumei Joking", "Old Birthday Star Letting the Deer", "Social Opera Night Pearl", "Lion Rolling Hydrangea Ball", "Phoenix Dance" and so on.

Tibetan people - On New Year's Eve, a grand "God Dance Party" is held. People wear masks, sing and dance, to get rid of the old and welcome the new, to expel evil and bring good fortune.

The Yi people gather to dance "Axi Dance to the Moon" during the Spring Festival. In some villages, men are responsible for collecting water and cooking on the first day of the new year, allowing women to rest, as a way to express condolences to them after a hard year of work.

The Miao people call the Spring Festival the "Hakka Year". Every household kills pigs and sheep, roasts wine and makes cakes to celebrate the harvest, hoping for good weather and abundant grains in the coming year. They also sing the "Spring Song", with lyrics roughly meaning missing spring, looking forward to spring, cherishing spring, and celebrating spring.

Bai people - Bai people begin to worship each other and give gifts to each other on New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve vigil. After midnight, young men and women rush to carry water to show their hard work. In the early morning, the whole family drinks sugar water soaked with rice crackers to wish for a sweet day. Everyone may visit scenic spots and historic sites together, or play dragon lanterns, lion dances, and beat the king's whip.

The Zhuang ethnic group - on the eve of New Year's Eve, every family will light a fire on the firepit, which will stay on all night long. It is called the "new year fire". It is a folk custom to make rice dumplings to celebrate the Spring Festival. During the festival, a variety of ethnic cultural and sports activities will be organized to celebrate, including singing "tea picking", lion and dragon dance, pole dance, gong making, top playing, ball games, local operas, etc.

The Jing people - on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they have to take incense and candles to the well to burn them, which is called "buying new water". Tibetan women have to carry "auspicious water" from the river before dawn on the first day of the Lunar New Year. It is believed that the new water on the first day of the lunar month can bring good news and good luck, and can ensure good luck for the whole year.

Dongxiang people like to have earth wars during the Spring Festival to show their love for the land that raised them.

Qiang people - every household makes various fried flour calves, lambs, chickens and other sacrifices to worship their ancestors and gods. During the New Year, they drink wine and everyone gathers around the altar. Sit down and let the longest person sing the "Opening the Altar", and then use a straw about two feet long to drink from left to right.

The Ewenki people - on the first day of the first lunar month, they pay New Year greetings to each other, especially their elders and relatives, who must kowtow to pay New Year greetings on the first day of the lunar month. On the night of the first day of the Lunar New Year, men, women, old and young gather together in a larger house to have fun. This entertainment party is usually called by the elderly. The women start dancing or singing first, and then everyone, regardless of gender, dances.

The Daur people - at dawn on the first day of the first lunar month, women prepare breakfast, and men burn incense, worship the heaven and earth, and worship the gods, praying to the gods and their blessings for peace and good harvests. After worshiping the gods, they toast to their elders and kowtow to accept them. The old man's message. After eating dumplings and putting on new clothes, close relatives, men and women, gather together, led by elders, to engage in various entertainment activities according to seniority.

Hani ethnic group - Women are busy making glutinous rice cakes on New Year's Eve, while young men go up the mountain to chop bamboo and build swings. No matter men, women, old or young, everyone likes to swing on the swing during the Spring Festival.

Buyi people - on New Year's Eve, the whole family sits around the firepit and keeps vigil all night long. At dawn on the first day of the New Year, girls rush to the river to fetch water. Whoever is the first to fetch water is the most industrious and happiest person, and this also heralds a good harvest.

Yao people-during the festival, people gather together to watch the interesting and unique "farming drama". One person plays the role of a cow, another person plays the role of a farmer holding a plow, and another person plays a farmer holding a hoe. The three dance and sing to celebrate the agricultural harvest. Young men and women gather on the lawns around the village, play the reed pipe, play the yueqin, and sing folk songs to find their love.

Jingpo people-hold a "target shooting" competition during the Spring Festival. On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, people gathered on the playing field. The girls hung the purses they embroidered on the top of the bamboo poles. If the shooter hit the thin string hanging the purse, he was considered a sharpshooter. The girls rewarded the sharpshooter with a bowl of sweet rice wine.

Lahu Nationality - Every year from the first day to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of the lunar calendar, it is the "Expanding Tower" Festival (Spring Festival in Lahu language) of the Lahu people in Yunnan. On New Year's Eve, every household makes glutinous rice cakes symbolizing the sun, moon and stars, offering sacrifices to the sun, moon and stars, hoping for good weather and abundant harvests in the new year. From the first to the fourth day of the lunar month, young men and women rush to the spring to welcome the new water, which symbolizes purity and happiness. The first to get it is the fastest. At the same time, people bring gifts to visit villages and villages, and visit relatives and friends.

Mongolian people - on New Year's Eve, the family sits around the stove in their bungalow, and after offering the "New Year's Eve wine" to their elders, they feast on roasted lamb legs and boiled dumplings.

Gaoshan tribe - Taiwan’s Gaoshan tribe has the custom of eating "perennial vegetables". Perennial vegetables are also called "mustard greens". Eating this vegetable is a sign of long life. Some people add long vermicelli noodles to perennial dishes to symbolize immortality.

Manchu——The New Year’s Eve family banquet is very rich and grand. Staple foods include glutinous rice flour or flour-wrapped dumplings, barbecue, bean buns, etc.; traditional New Year dishes include delicious blood sausage, boiled white meat and unique pickled cabbage and white meat, and fish dishes, which symbolize auspiciousness, are indispensable. At midnight, we also have a meal of fresh meat dumplings to see off the old and welcome the new.

The Zhuang ethnic group cooks a full day’s meal on the night of New Year’s Eve to indicate a good harvest in the coming year. This kind of rice is called "Zongba", some of which are more than a foot long and weigh five or six kilograms.

The Lahu people will make glutinous rice cakes every New Year's Eve. One pair is particularly large, which is said to symbolize the sun and the moon, and is used to pray for good weather and abundant fruits in the new year.

Dong people - early in the morning on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they get a few big and fresh carps from the pond, fry, fry, roast, stew, and put them on the table, plus a plate of fragrant pickled fish, and the whole table The dishes are mainly fish. The Dong people believe that eating fish during the Spring Festival heralds good luck in the new year, with plenty of fish, abundant harvests, and money and food.

Li ethnic group - During the Spring Festival, every family slaughters pigs and chickens, prepares delicious food and wine, and the whole family sits around to eat "New Year's dinner" and sing "New Year's songs" during the meal. On the first or second day of the Lunar New Year, people hunt together. The prey is given to the first shooter to hit it, and the remaining half is divided equally among everyone. Pregnant women can get two portions of the prey.

Jingpo people - during the Spring Festival, every household makes water and wine to toast to their elders.

The Daur people—live on both sides of the Heilongjiang and Nenjiang rivers. The New Year's Eve dinner is yellow rice steamed cake. Early in the morning, people who want to pay New Year's greetings to each other grab rice cakes as soon as they enter the house to pray for better life every year.

Wa people - when they meet for the first time in the New Year, in addition to congratulating each other, they also give glutinous rice dumplings, sugar cane and bananas as gifts, in order to wish a harmonious, sweet and beautiful family life.

Tujia people - on the family reunion dinner table, there must be lumps of meat and vegetables.

The Uyghur people’s New Year’s Eve family banquet foods include: “Puo” made of rice, mutton, raisins, etc., and “Pitil Mangda” made of flour, mutton, onions, etc. Steamed buns), "Gexi" (hand-caught mutton) cooked with bone-in mutton, "Lanman" (stretched noodles) made of dough, and "Ququ'er" which is sour and spicy similar to Han Chinese wontons, etc. . In addition, there are also a variety of traditional ethnic pastries and snacks, such as "Aisimsanza" (round plate dumplings), "Yayimaza" (lace dumplings), "Bohusak" (fried Jipi) ), "Shamubosa" (fried zygotes), "Kayikeka" (colorful fried foods), etc.

Tibetans--treat guests with highland barley wine, butter tea and cakes during the Spring Festival.