In Guangxi, there is a very grand festival known as Zhuang Ethnic Group's March 3rd Song Festival. It has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage for its unique and rich ethnic culture. Although there are many folktales about its origin, the most widely accepted one is that it is in memory of Liu Sanjie, the "Goddess of Singing" of the Zhuang people. Liu Sanjie used to write folk songs in praise of the hard work and loyal love stories of the working people, and expose the sins of the landlords. An evil landlord was obsessed with her beauty and wanted her to be his concubine. She would rather die than give in and was eventually thrown into Lake Xiaolongtan at the foot of Yufeng Mountain. In memory of the "Goddess of Singing", later generations would sing folk songs for three days and three nights on the third day of the third lunar month every year, giving rise to the Song Festival. Today, the festival is also a good opportunity for young people to engage romantically. Young men and women express themselves through antiphonal singing. If they feel the same way, they would give each other a token of love.
Generally, the festival lasts for two or three days and is held in a vacant lot not far from the village. A shed made of bamboo and cloth would be set up for singing and open to singers from other villages. Participants of antiphonal singing are mainly unmarried young people, but the elderly and children would also be present to liven up the scene. There are one or two thousand people at the small ones, and tens of thousands at the big ones.
Generally, the festival lasts for two or three days and is held in a vacant lot not far from the village. A shed made of bamboo and cloth would be set up for singing and open to singers from other villages. Participants of antiphonal singing are mainly unmarried young people, but the elderly and children would also be present to liven up the scene. There are one or two thousand people at the small ones, and tens of thousands at the big ones.
Some ethnic minorities in Guangxi have always adhered to the custom of beating bronze drums in festivals or sacrifices, and they still do so today. As the most representative cultural relic of the Zhuang family, the bronze drum is a symbol of power and status.
The traditional "sparkler" is an iron ring. All participants will put on their holiday costumes and rush to the venue at dawn. It is believed that the winner will be the most blessed and most favored by girls in the coming year.
Colored eggs are boiled eggs that are dyed and used as tokens. The young men will hold the colored egg to touch the one in the women's hand. But she will only let him touch it if she likes him. They will eat the eggs together after egg-bumping, symbolizing the beginning of love. Today, it is also a way to pray for good luck.
During the festival, the five-color glutinous rice is the highlight of every Zhuang family's dining table. People soak glutinous rice in the juice of special wildflowers and leaves to make it red, yellow, black, purple and white. It is said that eating this kind of food will make people prosperous and healthy.
Embroidered balls are exquisite handicrafts made by girls before the festival. It is a ball consisting of twelve petals, each petal representing a month of the year and embroidered with the flower of that month. Some embroidered balls are made into squares or polygons. Filled with beans, millet, or cottonseed, they are tied with a ribbon decorated with silk tassels and beads to show pure love.
Zhuang Ethnic Group's March 3rd Song Festival is a window for Guangxi to show its colorful ethnic elements to the world, and also a microcosm of its Luoyue Culture. With its distinctive characteristics and ethnic customs, it can not only make tourists enjoy the splendid culture of ethnic minorities in Guangxi, but also understand the extensive and profound culture of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. You are very welcome to come to Guangxi to experience the hospitality of warm Zhuang people!
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