Miao fertility festival 09

Miao fertility festival

all text & images © Tony Chen Hualong

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Jpeg 57K e27e 25 February 2004, the fourth day of the festival, in Langde village, Guizhou province, On this day, the ceremony was to take the spirit of the mountain dragon inside each home to live there so the family would enjoy good fortune in the future. The shaman and a group of men all wore traditional dress. These men were the leading people of the ceremony and of the community. They must be well thought of by the villagers before they can be selected as participants or else they cannot play the roles. When the ceremony started, the shaman went in front leading the way to each home. On entering each family's house they were offered cups of rice wine by the head of the family and fire crackers were also set off. While in the house, they played lusheng and danced in a circle to the rhythm of the bronze drum. When leaving the house, the owner gave them some red ribbons and cigarettes.

25 February 2004, the fourth day of the festival, in Langde village, Guizhou province, On this day, the ceremony was to take the spirit of the mountain dragon inside each home to live there so the family would enjoy good fortune in the future. The shaman and a group of men all wore traditional dress. These men were the leading people of the ceremony and of the community. They must be well thought of by the villagers before they can be selected as participants or else they cannot play the roles. When the ceremony started, the shaman went in front leading the way to each home. On entering each family's house they were offered cups of rice wine by the head of the family and fire crackers were also set off. While in the house, they played lusheng and danced in a circle to the rhythm of the bronze drum. When leaving the house, the owner gave them some red ribbons and cigarettes.

click on image to return to Miao fertility festival article