How Some Ethnic Groups in Yunnan Celebrate New Year

Minority girls

In Southwest of China lies Yunnan Province, one of China's provinces that see many Ethinic minority groups. Varied tradition, custom and habits influence different groups living here. Some fantastic and interesting custom that may never be witnessed elsewhere in China can be found in local. Such experience will always entertain and surprise tourists. Here are some ethinic groups which observe New Year in their unique way.

The Yi Ethnic Group

The Yi Ethnic Group in Yuanyang County of Southwest China's Yunnan Province celebrates two new years every year, based on their ancient sun calendar, which has only ten months. Each month begins with the rat day and ends with the pig day, following the pattern of the Chinese zodiac (represented by 12 animals). There are 36 days in each month with the twelve animals cycling three times. Thus there are only 360 days in a year, with the remaining five or six days considered as New Year days, which are celebrated in two periods.

Wooden invitation for the New Year celebration

The Drung Ethnic Minority celebrates their only traditional festival, the New Year Festival, in the twelfth month of the year. The length of the festival, ranging from two to five days, depends on the amount of food prepared. What's more, there is no fixed day for the festival, with each family or tribe celebrating the New Year Festival on the day they consider auspicious.

New Year in the kingdom of women

Around a great lake in the mountains of Southwest China lives a matriarchal group called the Mosuo. As the Musuo people are part of the Naxi ethnic minority -- one of China's 55 ethnic minorities --, to date the matriarchal system is still practiced in some Mosuo villages. The mother enjoys the highest position in Mosuo families, hence the place's designation as the "kingdom of women."

Becoming adults after the New Year

For the children aged thirteen from the Pumi Ethnic Minority , the New Year is specially important, because of the holding of the "wearing trousers or skirts" ceremonies, in which they will afterwards become young adults.

Source: China culture

Edit by Study-in-china.org

How Some Ethnic Groups in Yunnan Celebrate New Year

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