About Shangsi Festival
By ()
2016-04-15
It's a traditional Han festival, as well as for many of the minority nationalities in China. People once held various celebrations across the nation.
During the festival, Han people would go for outings, enjoy flowers in the fields and dates with their lovers. It is also a day used for invoking cleansing rituals to prevent disease and getting rid of bad luck.
To the Zhuang ethnic group in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, March 3 is a festival for young people to sing songs and find their true love. Since 1983, singing festivals have been held annually on this day throughout Guangxi.
There is a folk tale about singing traditions in ancient China where a renowned singer's daughter chose her husband by holding a singing competition and successfully found her true love. Since then, hunting for lovers by singing has become a tradition.
Bamboo dancing is another essential activity for the Zhuang people on March 3 on the lunar calendar. Teenagers and adults dress up in festive costumes while beating drums and expressing their admiration for each other.
Five-colored sticky-rice and painted eggs are important snacks. The Zhuang people believe rice is good for health and painted eggs are seen as the best keepsake of love.
In the southern Chinese island province of Hainan, the Li and Miao people celebrate the special day as the "Festival of Love", along with it being a day for remembering ancestors.
The She, Dong, Yao and Tujia ethnic groups also have the tradition of celebrating on the third day of the third lunar month.
Source: Chinaculture.org