Dragon Boat Festival of Miao People

 

Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most important festivals of the Miao Ethnic Group, which is held between 24th and 27th of the fifth lunar month on the Qingshui River. During this time, thousands of Miao people come from different parts of Guizhou to take part in the festival, such as Taijiang, Zhenyuan and Shibing, etc.

 

 

At present, there are three dragon boats, one is named as mother boat that with 17 meters long, the other two are named as child boat and with 10 meters long. All the boats are made from fire, each with a carved dragon's head on it's prow. Usually, befor the boats set out, the Miao audiences sing an auspicious song to the boatmen and wish they will have a bon voyage. The boats will sail from one village to another, when they approaching, they will fire guns to announce their arrival. The villagers will go out and meet them, according to the custom that they will set off firecrakers.

 

 

By local tradition, pigs, goats, ducks and geese are presented to the crew and headman. At lunch time, the boatmen will have lunch together on the boats without bowls and chopsticks. It is said that one will safe from disaster after eating food on the dragon-boat. And all the villagers gather on the bank and share food with each other. In the evening, the young pople singing and dancing together. Many of them meet their lovers in the party.

 

 

The origin of the festival

According to the folk story that a dragon swallowed a fisherman's son. Guya, the fisherman, is very angry and burnt the dragon's home. The fire burned for nine days, at last, the fisherman got victory. In order to celebrated, they held the Dragon Boat Festival.

 

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