100-Family Meals of Dai Village

2009-1-10 11:51:00

Favorite

Transtlate

100 Families eat together.

The village of Dai is actually a big family--a condition that is especially evident during the 100-family meal. During important festivals, every family in Lujiang and Nanhu will contribute one or two dishes for a huge banquet. Under the big, old banyan tree, a long table is loaded with all kinds of Dai dishes where villagers gather to enjoy the meal. The scene of great intimacy was common among tribes of primitive times.

The 100-family meal is held during every important festival in villages around Jingmai Tea Mountain. Each family brings its best dish and all members get together to enjoy them. On the day of the Cultural Tourism Festival, the 100-family meal was even more unique. Unlike the traditional feast prepared by only one village, on that day the meal was done by several villages together. Food wrapped in palm leaves was different in style, flavor and kind, which made it very inviting. Records indicate that over 1,000 families provided 1,500 bags of rice and 3,000 dishes. The 100-family meal, which is like a buffet, became the 1,000-family meal. It promoted communication and friendship among villagers who used the occasion to express their common desire to be prosperous.

It is said that the 100-family meal will bless every family member with prosperity and happiness. The Dai people are of the same ancestry, famous for their pure and unsophisticated customs.

Source: China culture