In the seedling stage
Miao year is the Miao people's own age, and the time of Miao year varies from place to place. In most areas, it is "the beginning of the year is in winter and March, and each is one of them." The beginning of a year is the beginning of every year, which means the New Year in China. Some are in October, others are in winter or December. In recent years, the vast majority of Miao people celebrate the Spring Festival in the first month, but the customs and habits of Miao people have not changed.
Chinese New Year is the biggest festival, so we should prepare rich food, kill pigs, smoke bacon, cook rice, stir-fry rice and kill chickens to worship our ancestors, so as to "spend our old age safely", open the door to manage money, celebrate the New Year and rest from the first to the fifteenth day of winter. During this period, traditional entertainment activities will be held, which are translated into Chinese as "stepping on the flower mountain", "jumping on the field ridge", "jumping on the moon" and "eating a family banquet". The entertainment activities during the Spring Festival in western Hunan are called "Catch the Year", which mainly include swinging, lion dancing, playing with dragon lanterns and singing lanterns.
Baishihui
The most interesting folk activity in Miao Year is the Hundred Lions Club. Nearly a hundred or dozens of lions danced in the surrounding villages and towns, gathered in traditional villages or market towns, beating gongs and drums, swinging spears and shooting guns, and simply turned the world upside down. There are quite a few famous performances of the Hundred Lions Club, such as welcoming lions, dancing lions, measuring lions, catching lions and climbing lions. They are simple and rich in Miao customs, hiding profound cultural heritage.
Miao people's love for lion dance is related to ancient legends and soil white. According to legend, during the flood period, demons ran rampant and harmed Miaoshan. A group of golden lions ran out of the forest to drive away the demons that devoured cattle, sheep and crops, and let the Miao family enjoy peace again. Later, the cunning devil came up with a poisonous trick, asking the witch to lure the lions into the rough East China Sea with colorful hydrangeas. Yaguo, a brave descendant of Miao nationality, braved difficulties and obstacles, waded through mountains and rivers to save the villagers from suffering, finally picked up the hydrangea floating on the waves, brought the auspicious lion back to Miaoshan again, and wiped out the evil monsters. Miao people happily rushed to Zhaitou to meet the auspicious golden lion and beat drums. Since then, there has been a "Hundred Lions Club" in Miao Township.
Myth is a reflection of life. The primitive and savage sunshine shines today through the clouds of history. The "Hundred Lions Club" is actually a great migration of ancient Miao people. "Migration Ballad" sings: "Our ancestors crossed 99 streams in the East China Sea and walked with great strides ..." Those monsters refer to a natural disaster in Lu Yu.
The time of the Hundred Lions Club is mostly after the third day of the first month of the Spring Festival. Hundreds of lions danced wildly and went door to door to pay New Year greetings to the Miao family.