There are 56 nationalities living in this vast land of China, including 55 minorities. They have different customs, cultures and festivals from Han nationality.
The Third Month Fair: A Celebration of Bai Culture
The Bai minority mainly inhabit in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, which is located in northwest Yunnan. The Third Month Fair held in Dali each year is the grandest traditional event of the Bai people at which material and cultural exchanges are carried out. The festival starts on the 15th day and ends on the 21st day of the 3rd Month each year on the lunar calendar. Activities held during the grand event include song and dance performance, and mountain songs meet. At the same time, big fairs for exchanging local and special products are held.
The Vibrant Festivities of the Dai and Yi Nationalities
The Water-sprinkling Festival is Dai Nationality’s new year according to Dai’s calendar and is Dai’s most impressive and solemn festival, which is held on April 13-15. On the festival, people dust the Buddha Statues and bless each other by sprinkling water. Other activities include dragon-boat race, throwing pouches, fire lanterns and water lanterns, etc.
Yi’s Torch Festival is usually celebrated on the 24th of the 6th lunar month each year, which is Yi Nationality’s most impressive celebration. At the night of the Torch Festival, people sing and dance around the torches. The Torch Festival is also a day for Yi’s youth to go for rendezvous.
On each year’s Spring Festival, all the Lisu people, male or female, gather at the Shiliutang Hot Spring of Lushui to celebrate the Spring Bath Festival .By taking baths and washing off dirt with the sacred spring water, people hope for the forthcoming of auspiciousness. Singing contests are held here for the whole evening and young people take the chance to make friends or get engaged.
Lisu’s traditional festival is held on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month each year. On the festival, people come from all directions and gather at the sword ground to watch the performance of “climbing sword mountain and diving into Fire Sea”.
When the corn is ripe, stockaded villages of the Miao minority quarry new grains, boil new rice and offer sacrifices to heroes of legend. Then the villagers divide food, carry on corrida, horse racing, antiphonal singing and Lusheng dance.
Cultural Splendor: Shoton and Nadam Festivals
The Shoton (Yogurt) Festival , usually celebrated in the sixth month of the Tibetan calendar, is one of the most important festivals in the Tibetan Buddhism and in Tibetan area. “Sho” means the yoghurt and “ton” means banquet in the Tibetan language. Shoton Festival means the festival when people drink yoghurt according to the explanation of Tibetan. During the festival, giant Thangkas of the Buddha are unveiled while Tibetan opera is performed.
The Nadam Festival is Mongolians’ most magnificent yearly entertainment event in the Mongolian grasslands, combining the traditional “Three Manly Games” of Nadam-wrestling, horse racing, and archery. The Nadam Festival has a history that dates back to the Yuan Dynasty. It is held on the 4th day of the 6th month of the Chinese calendar, when the harvest season reaches culmination.
