What is the "March 3rd" festival of the Zhuang people in Guangxi?
1. March 3rd Song Festival
The March 3rd of the lunar calendar in Guangxi is also called the "March 3rd Song Festival" or the "Song Fair." It is a traditional song festival of the Zhuang people. The Zhuang people have several regular folk song gatherings each year, such as the 15th day of the first lunar month, March 3rd, the 8th day of the fourth lunar month, and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, among which March 3rd is the most grand.
On this day, every household makes five-color glutinous rice and dyes colored eggs to celebrate the festival. The song festival usually lasts for two or three days, and the location is an open area not far from the village. Bamboo and cloth are used to build song pavilions to welcome singers from other villages. The singing competition mainly involves unmarried young men and women, but elderly people and children also come to watch and enjoy the atmosphere. Small song fairs can have one or two thousand people, while large ones can have tens of thousands of people.
2. March 3rd is the Birthday of the Ancestor of the Zhuang People, Buluotuo
This song festival has a history of over a thousand years. The song festival is not only a grand event to promote national culture but also a grand event for ethnic economic exchange. Therefore, in order to better protect this festival, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has stipulated that on the March 3rd of the lunar calendar each year, all people in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will have two days off.
The March 3rd of the lunar calendar in Guangxi is also called the "March 3rd Song Festival" or the "Song Fair." It is a traditional song festival of the Zhuang people. The Zhuang people have several regular folk song gatherings each year, such as the 15th day of the first lunar month, March 3rd, the 8th day of the fourth lunar month, and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, among which March 3rd is the most grand.
On this day, every household makes five-color glutinous rice and dyes colored eggs to celebrate the festival. The song festival usually lasts for two or three days, and the location is an open area not far from the village. Bamboo and cloth are used to build song pavilions to welcome singers from other villages. The singing competition mainly involves unmarried young men and women, but elderly people and children also come to watch and enjoy the atmosphere. Small song fairs can have one or two thousand people, while large ones can have tens of thousands of people.
2. March 3rd is the Birthday of the Ancestor of the Zhuang People, Buluotuo
This song festival has a history of over a thousand years. The song festival is not only a grand event to promote national culture but also a grand event for ethnic economic exchange. Therefore, in order to better protect this festival, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has stipulated that on the March 3rd of the lunar calendar each year, all people in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will have two days off.
What are the customs of the Zhuang people's March 3rd festival?
1. Throwing the Embroidered Ball
The embroidered ball at the song fair is a handicraft made by the girls before the festival. The craftsmanship is very exquisite, and each one is a silk textile craft: twelve petal-shaped parts connected into a spherical shape, with each petal representing a certain month of the year, and flowers of the corresponding month are embroidered on them. Some embroidered balls are made into square or multi-angled shapes. The inside of the embroidered ball is filled with beans or cotton seeds. A silk ribbon is attached to the ball, with tassels and beads hanging down, symbolizing pure love.
2. Singing Songs to Express Love
The "March 3rd" song fair is a good time for young men and women to socialize. Every time there is a song fair, young men and women from villages within dozens of miles gather at the song fair location. Under the guidance of song masters, young men sing songs with the girls they like.
It is usually the young men who take the initiative to sing the "touring song," observing and selecting their opponents. When they find a suitable match, they sing the greeting song and invitation song. If the girl is interested, she will respond. The young man then sings the inquiry song. Once they develop affection, they sing the song of love and friendship. The lyrics are improvised and spoken spontaneously. If the girl feels that the young man is both handsome and talented in singing, she will secretly give him the embroidered ball in her hand when no one is looking, and he will reciprocate with a handkerchief or towel. Then their songs become sweeter, and they eventually form a marriage alliance.
The embroidered ball at the song fair is a handicraft made by the girls before the festival. The craftsmanship is very exquisite, and each one is a silk textile craft: twelve petal-shaped parts connected into a spherical shape, with each petal representing a certain month of the year, and flowers of the corresponding month are embroidered on them. Some embroidered balls are made into square or multi-angled shapes. The inside of the embroidered ball is filled with beans or cotton seeds. A silk ribbon is attached to the ball, with tassels and beads hanging down, symbolizing pure love.
2. Singing Songs to Express Love
The "March 3rd" song fair is a good time for young men and women to socialize. Every time there is a song fair, young men and women from villages within dozens of miles gather at the song fair location. Under the guidance of song masters, young men sing songs with the girls they like.
It is usually the young men who take the initiative to sing the "touring song," observing and selecting their opponents. When they find a suitable match, they sing the greeting song and invitation song. If the girl is interested, she will respond. The young man then sings the inquiry song. Once they develop affection, they sing the song of love and friendship. The lyrics are improvised and spoken spontaneously. If the girl feels that the young man is both handsome and talented in singing, she will secretly give him the embroidered ball in her hand when no one is looking, and he will reciprocate with a handkerchief or towel. Then their songs become sweeter, and they eventually form a marriage alliance.
3. Making Five-color Glutinous Rice
Before the festival, every household prepares five-color glutinous rice and colored eggs. People collect red grass, yellow flower, maple leaves, and purple sweet potato vines, using the juice of these plants to soak the glutinous rice, making red, yellow, black, purple, and white five-color glutinous rice. According to legend, this food was praised by the immortals and passed down; others say it was for the worship of the song fairy Liu Sanjie. Eating this rice brings prosperity and health. Colored eggs are items used by young men and women during the song fair to communicate and express emotions.
4. Competing for the Firecracker
In some minority areas of Guangxi, the "competing for the firecracker" activity is spontaneously organized on the March 3rd of the lunar calendar and after the autumn harvest.
Each team participating in the firecracker competition has 8 members. Through methods such as breaking through, blocking, changing direction, and rushing fast, the players rush into the opponent's cannon base and place the firecracker to score. The rules are similar to those of American football, hence it is called the "Oriental Football." Traditionally, the "firecracker" is a metal ring about 5 cm in diameter, wrapped with red cloth or red silk. The playing field is usually set on the riverbank or hillside, with no limit on the number of participants or teams. Every firecracker must be competed for, and the game ends after three firecrackers.
Before the festival, every household prepares five-color glutinous rice and colored eggs. People collect red grass, yellow flower, maple leaves, and purple sweet potato vines, using the juice of these plants to soak the glutinous rice, making red, yellow, black, purple, and white five-color glutinous rice. According to legend, this food was praised by the immortals and passed down; others say it was for the worship of the song fairy Liu Sanjie. Eating this rice brings prosperity and health. Colored eggs are items used by young men and women during the song fair to communicate and express emotions.
4. Competing for the Firecracker
In some minority areas of Guangxi, the "competing for the firecracker" activity is spontaneously organized on the March 3rd of the lunar calendar and after the autumn harvest.
Each team participating in the firecracker competition has 8 members. Through methods such as breaking through, blocking, changing direction, and rushing fast, the players rush into the opponent's cannon base and place the firecracker to score. The rules are similar to those of American football, hence it is called the "Oriental Football." Traditionally, the "firecracker" is a metal ring about 5 cm in diameter, wrapped with red cloth or red silk. The playing field is usually set on the riverbank or hillside, with no limit on the number of participants or teams. Every firecracker must be competed for, and the game ends after three firecrackers.
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