What are the traditional festivals and customs of the Dai people?

Introduction: Dai is one of the 55 ethnic minorities in China, and it is also one of the ethnic groups that we can name and celebrate, because the Dai Water-splashing Festival is very famous at home and abroad. So, what are the traditional festivals of the Dai people? If you want to know the festivals and customs of the Dai people, come and have a look with me.

Dai traditional festivals

The main festivals of Dai people are "Harvest Festival", "Opening Festival" and Water-splashing Festival. The "Zen Festival" is in the middle of July, which is a busy farming season. Most Buddhist festivals are concentrated in this period, so as to concentrate on production. At the same time, a grand "Buddha worship" activity will be held to offer food, flowers, silver coins and paper money to the Buddha. The "liquidation date" will last for about three months until the "opening date" in the middle of 10. The biggest festival of the Dai people is the Water-splashing Festival. The time is April every year. According to the time series, April in the solar calendar is equivalent to the first month in the Dai calendar.

What festivals and customs do Dai people have?

Closing festival

Dai language is called "entering the depression", which means that Buddha enters the temple. Yunnan Dai traditional religious festival, lasting for three months, began in the fifteenth day of the ninth year of the Dai calendar (mid-July of the lunar calendar). According to legend, every year on the ninth day of September in the Dai calendar, the Buddha went to the Western Heaven to give a lecture with his mother, and returned to the world in March. Once, just as the Buddha was going to the west to talk about his menstrual period, thousands of Buddhists went to the countryside to preach, trampling on the crops of the people and delaying their production. People complained bitterly and were very dissatisfied with Buddhists. When the Buddha learned about this, he felt uneasy. From then on, whenever the Buddha went to the Western Heaven to give a lecture, all Buddhists got together and stipulated that during these three months, they were not allowed to go anywhere but to repent to atone for their sins. Therefore, people call it "closing day" in seconds.

Open door festival

The Dai language is called "Chuao", which means that the Buddha leaves the temple. Traditional religious festivals of Dai people in Yunnan. It is held on1February15th of the Dai calendar every year. Its activities are the same as the closing day. On the day of Dai calendar1February 15, what was put behind the Buddha when entering the cave was taken out and burned, indicating that the Buddha had come out of the cave. /kloc-on 0/6, the monk left the cave, and the whole family went to the cave to worship Buddha. /kloc-A grand "flower-catching" activity was held on 0/7, because the Buddha returned to the world after giving a lecture in the Western Heaven for three months, so all villages had to beat gongs and drums to hold a grand welcoming activity for the Buddha, and at the same time confessed their sins to the Buddha in the shack for one year. Monks take this opportunity to preach teachings to young men and women.

The opening day coincided with the busy farming season, the weather was getting colder, and there were not many Buddhist activities. Young people could fall in love or get married, while adults went out to do business or visit relatives and friends. This season is the time when the Dai people have the most cultural and recreational activities. People set off sparks, lit lamps, flew high and traveled around the village, which was very lively.

Takashi

Some places are also called "Changchong". "Dragon" in Dai language refers to a tree or a forest, and "Xian" or "Chong" both mean sacrifice, so "Xian" means sacrifice to tree gods. In ancient times, the Dai people planted trees to commemorate the establishment of the village, so the Dai people regarded the trees planted in the village as the protector of the village.

The time of "Dragon City" is in February of the summer calendar, and the specific time varies from village to village. Usually led by the descendants of Lizhai people. The men in the village worship under a special tree. During the "Long Show", they visited each other and exchanged holiday congratulations. Young men and women string together mountains and villages, sing folk songs and find partners. On the second day of the "Dragon Market" in Dashunzhai area, young men and women invited each other to fish and shrimp in the river. At night, each kind of fish and shrimp was taken and put into the river, which meant that fish and shrimp would be endless in the coming year, and they would have a meal by the river that night. Young men and women were happy together. During the "Dragon Market", guests are allowed to enter and leave, and they must entertain guests before they can give up.

Known as the soul of the valley

Also known as "Zhao Gu Soul". Every year in October of the summer calendar, when the grains are put into storage, the Dai people should choose the last dragon day at the end of the month as the soul of the valley. On that day, every family will kill a hen in the field and light a pile of straw or chaff as a sacrifice. After the sacrifice, take a small share of grain home and put it in the warehouse. To show that Gu Soul has gone home, we can open the warehouse later.

Duige Festival

On the Duanyang Festival in May every year, young Dai men and women on both sides of the Red River gather in Nabing Dalongtan in Wuwan Village, Majie Township to participate in the Duge Festival. On the day of duet, young men and women from all villages dressed up and held duet competitions between men and women and between villages from sunrise to sunset. Old people and children came to listen to singing with dry food. For young men and women, Duige Festival is an excellent opportunity to make friends and find partners.

the Water Sprinkling Festival

Songkran Festival is the New Year's Festival of the Dai people, and it is also the most important festival of the Dai people. It is held in April of the lunar calendar (equivalent to May of the Dai calendar) every year and usually lasts for three to four days. The first day is "Mairi", which is similar to Chinese New Year's Eve. Dai language calls it "ten thousand business letters", which means to send the old. At this time, people have to tidy up their houses, clean up, and prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner and various activities during the festival. The next day is called "Angry Day", which means "Empty Day". According to custom, this day is neither the year before nor the year after, so it is an "empty day"; The third day is called "Maipaya Wanma". It is said that this is the day when the soul of the late Maipaya returned to Earth with a new calendar. People used to regard this day as the arrival of the King of Heaven, that is, New Year's Day in the Dai calendar.

The Songkran Festival originated in India and was a ceremony of ancient Brahmanism, which was later absorbed by Buddhism. 12 century to 13 century, it was introduced into the Dai area of China with Buddhism. With the deepening influence of Buddhism in Dai areas, the Water-splashing Festival has been circulated as a national custom for hundreds of years. During the spread of the Water-splashing Festival, the Dai people gradually combined it with their own myths and legends, giving the Water-splashing Festival more magical significance and national color.

Up to now, there is still a very interesting myth circulating among the Dai people: in ancient times, there was a demon in the Dai area. He did many evils and abused his power, which caused crop failure, people's anxiety and people's unhappiness. People hate his guts, but they can't cope with it in many ways. Later, the devil married seven civilians. Seeing that their compatriots are living a miserable life, the girls are determined to find a way to destroy the devil. The clever seven girls found his fatal weakness from the devil's words, that is, only the devil's own hair can kill him.

One night, the devil fell asleep as drunk as a fiddler. The girls bravely tore a hair from his head and tied it tightly around his neck. Sure enough, the devil's head fell off at once. But as soon as the head touched the ground, the ground caught fire. On the verge of disaster, the girls immediately picked up their heads, the fire went out and the devil disappeared with them.

In order to prevent the fire from rekindling and endangering the people, the sisters decided to hold the devil's head in turn and change it once a year. When changing people every year, people will head at the girl in order to wash away her blood and fatigue all year round. Later, in order to commemorate these seven witty and brave women, the Dai people splashed water on each other on this day every year, thus forming a grand festival of the Dai people to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year-the Water Splashing Festival.

Dam patrol festival

Youtianba is an annual traditional Spring Festival gala of Dai people. On the morning of the 13th day of the first month, Dai men and women who can sing and dance, dressed in festive costumes, gathered under the anniversary tree in the village, beating gongs and drums, beaming. Singers carry mellow rice wine and sing happy Spring Festival songs and Four Seasons songs. People dance to the drums.

When the golden sun rises in Ran Ran, an elder loudly announces the start of "dam patrol", and people intoxicated with singing and dancing automatically form a team, led by eight youths with colorful flags. Everyone blew their horns, knocked on gongs and drums, set off firecrackers and muskets, and marched on the dam ... "Patrol Dam" can be described as a "patrol" of the Dai family on agricultural spring ploughing production. Through this activity, combine.

For example, the early rice of the whole dam must be planted before the thirteenth day of the first month; Water irrigation, do not steal water, grab water; No one is allowed to cut down trees in the restricted area. Otherwise, ordinary citizens will be fined 30 bowls of wine and 30 kilograms of fresh meat. Double punishment for village cadres. "Patrol dam" embodies the traditional virtue of Dai people's attaching importance to agricultural production.

Woba Festival

It is a festival for the Dai people to pray for a good harvest of fisheries and rice, which is held in Dayaowan on the seventh day of the third lunar month every year. According to legend, in ancient times, foreign invasion led to the unfortunate death of Lu Baiwang, the ancestor of the Dai nationality. Under the leadership of Prince Qingge and Princess Hongmei, the Dai family continued to fight bravely, but eventually they were outnumbered and retreated to the Jinsha River. Brother Qing and Sister Hong were also captured by the enemy and imprisoned in a cave by the river. In order to destroy Dai Jia, the enemy colluded with a demon named Shi Mo in Jiangya to kill Dai Jia.

Stone moths make waves, dark clouds roll, rivers rush, evil waves soar into the sky, flash floods and rocks collapse, and Dai's family who has suffered a lot will be doomed. At this moment, Brother Qing and Sister Hong rushed out of the cave to fight to the death with the stone moth, and finally killed the stone moth, making the river recede and the rock stable. The dark clouds cleared, the river receded, the mountain torrents stopped, and Dai's family was saved. Dai's family settled down by the Jinsha River, with good weather and a good life.

But in the struggle with the stone moth, Qingge and Hongmei were enchanted and turned into herring and red fish. In order to commemorate the achievements of Qingge and Hongmei in saving the Dai family, every year on the seventh day of the third lunar month, all the Dai families, men, women and children, wear bright national costumes and carry delicious food and wine, and come to the Jinsha River to sing and dance and hold a commemorative celebration to celebrate the victory of defeating the devil A Dai's family. Early this morning, people came to the Jinsha River early. When the sun shines on the river, the grand festival ceremony begins.

Under the command of a respected Dai-speaking elder, two strong Dai men carried two big wooden fish on their shoulders, one was herring and the other was red fish. With the signal of three muskets, they blew their whistle to lead the way and sent the wooden fish to the beach by the river. Everyone walked along the river, under the guidance of their elders, came to the river with pots and threw them at the wooden fish in songs.

Then the elders recite auspicious words in Dai language, dip pine branches into the river and gently sprinkle them on everyone's head. People throw water at each other and send good wishes. Accompanied by suona, manggong and elephant foot drum, men, women and children danced a cheerful "Gayang Dance", wishing the new year a good weather, a basket full of fish and a bumper harvest of rice. Today, the Woba Festival gathering place has also become a place for people of all ethnic groups in Chuxiong, Lijiang and the adjacent areas of Sichuan and Yunnan to exchange culture and materials. Every year, more than10,000 people come to participate in festivals and local products transactions.

Huajie Festival

Also called "Hot Water Pond Flower Street Festival". The traditional folk festival of the Dai people in Yuanjiang, Yunnan Province is held on the seventh day of the first lunar month every year for one day. The Dai and Ya people also celebrate the Flower Street Festival, which is basically the same as the Dai people, but the festival is on the sixth day of the fifth lunar month. The main purpose of Huajie Festival is to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. On the morning of the festival, when the sun rises, men, women and children dressed in festive costumes gather on the lawn of the hot water pond on the east bank of Yuanjiang River to celebrate the festival with songs and laughter.

Old people used to talk about the past, young people sang and danced, and children chased games and enjoyed themselves. People have also bathed in hot springs in hot pools to get rid of the filth of the old year and greet the new year cleanly and coolly. On this day, unmarried young men and women will also hold duets to find partners.

Summer festival

The Dai language is called "Haowa", which means entering summer. It started in September of the Dai calendar 15 (mid-July of the lunar calendar) and lasted for 3 months. According to legend, every year in the Dai calendar in September, the Buddha went to the Western Heaven to lecture with his mother, and then returned to the world three months later. Once, just as the Buddha was going to the west to talk about his menstrual period, thousands of Buddhists went to the countryside to preach, trampling on the crops of the people and delaying their production. People complained bitterly and were very dissatisfied with Buddhists. When the Buddha learned about this, he felt uneasy. From then on, whenever the Buddha went to the Western Heaven to give a lecture, all Buddhists were called together and it was stipulated that they were not allowed to go anywhere during these three months, and they could only repent to atone for their sins. Therefore, people call it "closing day".

Summer festival

The Dai language is called "Angwa", which means to come out in summer and originated from the habit of living in the rainy season in ancient Buddhism. The time is 65438 in the Dai calendar+65438 in February+May (around the middle of September in the lunar calendar). It symbolizes that the rainy season in the past three months has ended, and the marriage taboo between men and women has been lifted since the "closed day", so people call it "open day". After the taboo is lifted, young men and women can begin to fall in love freely or hold a wedding. On this day, young men and women dressed in costumes went to the Buddhist temple to worship Buddha, offering food, flowers, wax strips and coins. After the service, a grand cultural rally was held to celebrate the end of fasting since the closing day.

The main contents include setting off sparks and rising, lighting lanterns, singing and dancing. Young people will also jump lanterns in the shape of birds, animals, fish and insects around the village. At this time, when the rice harvest is finished, it is also a festival to celebrate the harvest.

Brief introduction of Dai nationality

Dai is a unique ethnic group in Yunnan, mainly living in Xishuangbanna, Dehong, Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Gengma, Menglian and other fertile places under tropical and subtropical climate conditions. The ancestors of the Dai nationality are one of the ancient Baiyue people, and "Dai" means a nation that loves freedom and peace. The national characteristics of the Dai nationality are distinct and prominent, and people generally like singing and dancing. The dance image is vivid and delicate, and the movements are mostly the simulation and beautification of animal forms. The most popular ones are "peacock dance" and "Elephant Foot Drum Dance", especially "peacock dance". With its graceful dancing and delicate emotions, the peacock, a beautiful animal, has been vividly simulated, personified and beautified, bringing people into a poetic realm and captivating the audience in metropolis. Dai language belongs to Sino-Tibetan language family and belongs to Dai language branch of Zhuang-Dong language family. Dai people have their own characters, which are used by Dai people to record rich historical legends, religious classics and literary poems. Dai people can not only sing and dance well, but also create splendid culture, especially Dai calendar, Dai medicine and narrative poems.