http://www.vijaytapanchal.com/chinese-silver/
Interesting stories of Chinese Miao holidays
Who are the Miao?
Residing in the mountainous south and southwestern China, the Miao minority group have holidays in each month. They sing, dance, and enjoy big meals with friends together. Holidays are especially a good time for youngsters 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. Before the New Year, people have a general house-cleaning, and prepare special food like glutinous rice paste, rice wine, sausage, and bean curd. Women at this time will prepare new clothes for their family.
People stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve, then they go outside to light firecrackers to invite dragons into their home. They will have a ceremony held after daybreak to worship their forebears. The nose of a cow is put on some wine to prove that people have respect for this hardworking animal. After breakfast, people go to their neighbors' home to say: "Happy New Year!".
On the first two days of the New Year, cutting woods on the mountains, or any cleaning work at home is strictly prohibited. Women are liberated from housework like cooking, and men will cook for their family.
Girls dress up with beautiful silver ornaments and embroidered garments to go to meet the boys. Some young men even walk long distances to other villages to attend all kinds of social activities.
The Miao New Year lasts nine days. A lot of people choose to get married during this time.
Huashan Festival
There are various Huashan, or “Flower Mountain,” festivals held in different Miao areas. Some are in January, while others are in May or August on the lunar calendar.
On that day, people will adorn a pole with colorful flags and place it at the center of a playground. On top of the pole is a red pouch with reward inside. A man declares the beginning of the festival, and a pole climbing game starts. The man who can climb to the top of the pole first to take the pouch, while playing his Lusheng wind instrument, will get the reward. It's difficult for anyone to climb a pole whilst play an instrument! Made from peeled pine timber, the pole is slender, smooth, and long. The winner will always win the respect of others, especially the girls.
The exciting bullfights and horse races are also held during this festival. Women show great interest in exhibiting their perfect sewing skills and the men are busy displaying their superior physical strength.
By singing love songs, youngsters will use this time to look for lovers. If they find one, they will give each other some personal things, like an embroidered handkerchief or waistband. Elderly people go to meet friends and express their opinions about farming. 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 occurs in mid-March on 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 busy with preparing colorful and sweet glutinous rice. The rice has five beautiful and bright colors. Blue typifies wealth, yellow stands for a good harvest, white indicates their true and pure love, green means their pretty hometown, and red hopes their village will go for prosperity.
The second day they go fishing to find some shrimp and fish. After get some duck and duck eggs, they will cook a big meal in the afternoon. 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.
In the evening, when the men finally come, they will dine together, then go outside to talk and sing songs to express their feelings. 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.
Four days later, this Miao holiday is over. Various games and activities are held during this time, like horse races, bullfights, song competitions, and so on.
A basket of fish, meat and glutinous rice will be sent to the men by the girls before the men go back to their home. They will probably place some particular things in the basket to tell if they like the men or not. Cotton means they will miss their presence. A pack of pine leaves suggests that they want men to send them some needles and thread as present. Pepper or garlic means the relationship won't work out.
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.
Silver philosophy 5: China paradaigm
|
|
Rare chinese antique silver gilt flower carnelian earrings 1800s $19.00 |
|
|
Charm Chinese Miao Pure silver Bracelet pair $23.66 |
|
|
predominant Tibet silver elephant figure teapot $0.01 |
|
|
30 inch Turquoise Tibet Silver Stunning Necklace $0.10 |
|
|
2012 CHINESE PANDA 1 OZ COIN BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED (PROOF-LIKE) $45.88 |
|
|
CHINESE OLD HAND TIBET-SILVER DRAGON TOOTHPICK BOX $0.85 |
|
|
Tibet Silver Inlay Blue Stone Bead Bracelet $0.01 |
|
|
Beautiful Chinese Turquoise silver Bracelet Nature @@801 $0.10 |
|
|
57mm OAK Grey Chinese Jade Hinged Bangle Silver925 Burmese Ruby Antique Sty $209.98 |
|
|
Tibetan Silver Green Jade Buddha head thumb ring 9# $0.01 |
|
|
CHINESE Good Luck SILVER PENDANT .925 Wealth Fortune SS $29.95 |
|
|
Chinese Crested Dog 925 Silver Mother Of Pearl Flower Necklace Earrings Set M249 $19.99 |
|
|
1 x Lovely Fashion Silver Chinese Angel Pendant SA431 $2.77 |
|
|
Stainless Steel Cool Black Silver Bar Chinese Linking Mens Necklace 20.5″ N036 $9.99 |
|
|
CHINESE HANDWORK TIBET-SILVER PAIR KIRIN OLD JADE STATUE $0.31 |
|
|
Beautiful Chinese minority Miao Silver Earring Pair $0.10 |
|
|
Chinese Fresh Water Pearls Oval shaped 30″ long Sterling w/ Silver Clasp MINT $25.00 |
|
|
SILVER Bar 1/2 (half) oz YEAR OF THE DRAGON .999 Fine Chinese Lunar Proof-like $15.50 |
|
|
Chinese Qing Dynasty 1896 GUANG-XU&DRAGON One Yuan Silver dollar Y-003 $60.00 |
|
|
Korea Star Accessories TVXQ Silver Chinese Characters Pierce (Apair) (ACC365) $16.99 |
|
|
Korea Star Accessories TVXQ Silver Chinese Characters Pierce (Apair) (ACC365) $16.99 |
|
|
Korea Star Accessories TVXQ Silver Chinese Characters Pierce (Apair) (ACC365) $16.99 |
|
|
Korea Star Accessories TVXQ Silver Chinese Characters Pierce (Apair) (ACC365) $16.99 |
|
|
Chinese Crested Dog 925 Sterling Silver Mother Of Pearl Flower Jewelry Set M248 $19.99 |
|
|
PUGSTER CHINESE BUDDHA SILVER TONE EUROPEAN CHARM BEAD FOR BRACELET U78 $0.99 |
|
|
PUGSTER CHINESE KNOT RED CRYSTAL JULY SILVER TONE CHARM BEAD FOR BRACELET U39 $0.99 |
|
|
Chinese Culture Fashion 3 Row Tibet Jewelry Turquoise Handmade Silver Bracelet $0.99 |
|
|
Pretty silver dragon Blue and White Porcelain teapot $0.01 |
|
|
Collectable tibet silver carved dragon toothpick box $0.01 |
|
|
Korea Star Accessories So Ji Sub Silver Chinese Character Pierce (Apair)(ACC293) $16.99 |
|
|
Fabulous Art Deco Chinese 2 Tone Silver Jadeite Jade Cabochon Lotus Bracelet $450.00 |
|
|
Fabulous Rare ART DECO Antique Chinese Export Silver Jadeite Jade Necklace $650.00 |
|
|
Fabulous Vintage Chinese Large Carved Jade Rose Quartz Cloisonne Silver Necklace $495.00 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $3.90 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $11.05 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $14.30 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $24.05 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $3.12 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $3.90 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $5.85 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $11.05 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $11.05 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $22.75 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $35.75 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $70.20 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $11.05 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $22.75 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $35.75 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $70.20 |
|
|
925 Sterling Silver charm Pendants Chinese characters Jewelry Beads fit bracelet $11.05 |
|
|
Thermos Foogo Leak-Proof Stainless Steel 10-Ounce Food Jar, Pink $12.00 Foogo Vacuum Insulated Food JarTherMax double wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention Unbreakable stainless steel interior and exterior Wide mouth is easy to fill, eat from, and clean Ergonomically designed lid with rubber grip Dishwasher safe Non-slip, scratch resistant base, cool to the touch with hot foods Light, compact and portable… |
|
|
Cuisinart 726-38H Chef’s Classic Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry Pan with Helper Handle and Glass Cover $31.65 Healthful, high-heat stir-frying requires minimal oil and sears foods to seal in flavor, texture and nutrients…. |
|
|
Helen Chen’s Asian Kitchen 14-inch Carbon Steel Wok with Bamboo Handles $24.99 Handsome, rugged, and classic in composition, this Asian Kitchen wok is an ideal tool for the high-heat searing and stir-frying called for in Eastern cooking. Created by Helen Chen, daughter of renowned Chinese chef Joyce Chen, the pan is made of durable 1.8 mm carbon steel. Substantial in weight and construction, it will gradually season to create an optimum cooking surface for veggies, seafood, … |
|
|
Giacomo Puccini: La Boheme $14.10 PUCCINI:LA BOHEME – DVD Movie… |
|
|
Gustavo Dudamel: Live from Salzburg – Beethoven/Mussorgsky $11.20 LIVE FROM SALZBURG:BEETHOVEN/MUSSORGS – DVD Movie… |
|
|
Tao of Healing $10.11 Part of the Sound Healing series from Soundings of the Planet, Tao of Healing teams flautist Dean Evenson with Li Xiangting, a professor from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and an authority on the guqin, an ancient seven-string zither from China. Their collaboration, with barely perceptible support from keyboards, acoustic guitar (Scott Huckabay) and percussion, is a hushed, serene, … |
|
|
Berlioz: Les Troyens [Blu-ray] $18.98 Daniela Barcellona, Lance Ryan, Elisabete Matos, Giorgio Giuseppini, Gabriele Viviani, and Stephen Milling star in this Valenciana Palau de les Arts production of the Berlioz opera conduced by Valery Gergiev and directed by Carlus Padrissa…. |
|
|
City Under Siege [Blu-ray 3D] (German Import) $35.24 … |
|
|
Eagle Vs Silver Fox [VHS] $1.95 After the downfall of the Manchu Dynasty, the surviving officials plan to restore order across China. One of these men, Silver Fox (Hwang Jang Lee), hires the best fighters in the country to assassinate those who were responsible for the revolution and destroy all martial arts schools. To combat this menace the various schools band together and nominate Chow Fung, master of the eagle form, to face… |
|
|
Maglite XL100 LED Flashlight, Black $22.38 This Maglite flashlight has four unique settings for effectiveness in the field. Choose from strobe, signal, S.O.S., Nite Lite, or “normal” settings. Engineered for optimum light output, you’ll love the tough, super rugged construction that comes standard with Maglite models. It has rugged machined aluminum construction, with shock and water resistance for long life. It’s anodized inside and out, … |