Houxi immigrants

Songkran Festival is the biggest festival of Dai people, and it is also the most influential festival with the largest number of participants in ethnic festivals. Songkran Festival is the Dai New Year, which is equivalent to the middle of April in Gregorian calendar. This festival usually lasts for 3 to 7 days. On the first day, the Dai language was called "Mairi", which was similar to the Chinese New Year's Eve. The next day, the Dai language is called "angry day" (empty day); The third day is the first day of the New Year, and it is called "Overlord Horse", which is actually the beginning of a year. People think this day is the most beautiful and auspicious day. In the early morning of the festival, Dai men, women and children put on festive costumes and carried clear water. They first went to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha, and then began to splash water on each other to wish each other luck, happiness and health. People are dancing and shouting "water! Water! Water! " The sound of gongs and drums resounded through the sky, and the water of blessing splashed everywhere. The scene is really spectacular.

During the Songkran Festival, Dai youth like to play the game of losing packets in the open space in the forest. The flower bag is made of beautiful flower cloth and contains cotton paper, cottonseed and so on. , and decorated with five spikes at four corners and center. It is the token of love, and young men and women get to know each other through losing and receiving packages. After the girl consciously let the young man lose, the young man gave the girl the prepared gift, and both of them left the crowd and went to a secluded place to fall in love.

There will be a dragon boat race during the Songkran Festival. The competition was held on the Lancang River. Groups of dragon boats, dressed in red and green, beat the waves with gongs, shouts and whistles, attracting thousands of Chinese and foreign tourists to the Lancang River, adding a lot of tension and joy to the festival.

The Songkran Festival originated in India and was once a religious ceremony of Brahmanism in India. After being absorbed by Buddhism, it was introduced into the Dai area of Yunnan through Myanmar, with a history of 700 years from the end of13rd century to the beginning of14th century. With the increasing influence of Buddhism spread to the south in Dai areas, the valley study of Water-splashing Festival has become more and more extensive. Songkran Festival is a celebration of the Dai people's New Year, which usually lasts from April 13 to April 15 in the solar calendar. At that time, people will go to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha first, and then splash water on each other to express their sincere wishes. Laughing everywhere, full of festive atmosphere.

Another eye-catching activity of the Songkran Festival is dragon boat rowing, elephant foot drums and peacock dance. At that time, on the third day of the Dai people's New Year's Day, the Dai language called it "Maipaya Wanma", and the festive atmosphere reached its climax. People dressed in festive costumes gathered on the banks of Lancang River and Ruili River to watch the dragon boat race. The activities of the Songkran Festival are rich in content, and others include soaring, cockfighting and peacock dance. People are dressed up and beaming, and the scene is extremely warm!

The water-splashing festival is coming, and the Dai people are busy killing pigs, chickens and making wine. They also have to make many "rice cakes" and Baba made of various glutinous rice to eat during festivals.

The Songkran Festival lasts for three days. On the first day, rowing dragon boats, flying high and performing arts; Splash water the next day; On the third day, young men and women lost their bags together and exchanged materials.

The Songkran Festival is usually held on the banks of the beautiful Lancang River. When the dawn reflected the "City of Dawn", people of all ethnic groups dressed in costumes gathered here from all directions. At the command, one by one rose into the sky, like an arrow of a dragon boat, and went straight to the other side. At this time, thousands of golden bamboos played together, gongs and drums rang, and the Lancang River suddenly became a sea of joy.

At the beginning of water splashing, the polite Dai girl said a blessing, while soaking bamboo leaves and branches in the water in the basin and splashing each other. At the climax, people use copper bowls, washbasins and even buckets to hold water and play and chase in the streets. They only feel that the water in front of them and the water behind them are soaked from head to toe, but people are in high spirits and full of laughter everywhere. After a period of water baptism, people form a circle and dance with the accompaniment of gongs, drums and elephant feet drums, regardless of nationality, age and occupation. Excited, people also burst into cheers of "water, water, water". Some men jump and drink, staying up all night.

"Packet loss" is the most romantic, and it is often a special game for unmarried Dai youth. Treasure is a symbol of love. Made by Dai girls with cotton seeds, the four corners of the bag are decorated with colorful flowers. When the bag was lost, men and women stood in a row on the grassy lawn. First, the Dai girl threw the bag to the boy, and then the boy threw it to the girl to convey their feelings. In this way, flowers fly around, and finally the feelings communicate to a certain extent. The two sides quietly withdrew from the packet loss field and found a quiet place to whisper to each other.

In the Songkran Festival, young people splash water, just like blooming silver flowers.

Traditional festivals of Dai, Achang, De 'ang, Bulang and Wa. Dai language calls the New Year "Jingbimai" and the Songkran Festival "Hounan". Therefore, the Songkran Festival is a symbol of the Dai people's alternation of old and new over the years.

The Songkran Festival usually lasts for three to five days in mid-April of Gregorian calendar and mid-June of Dai calendar. The first day is called "more than ten thousand miles", which means New Year's Eve, and the last day is called "eighty thousand horses", which means "the day when the king comes", which is New Year's Day. The middle is called "wrist brain", which means "empty sky". Every festival, we should carry out activities such as splashing water, losing bags, rowing dragon boats, flying high, worshiping Buddha and going to the market.

On the morning of the first day of the festival, people gathered flowers and green leaves to worship in the Buddhist temple, and built four or five pagodas in the temple. Secular beings sit around the tower, listen to the Buddha chanting, and then carry the Buddha to the courtyard. All the women in the village came to meet the Buddha with clear water. After the Buddhist temple ceremony, young men and women stopped splashing water on each other for fun, so the people began splashing water. People use copper bowls, washbasins and even buckets to hold water, squeeze out of the streets, play chasing games and throw it at everyone. People think this is auspicious water, blessed water, which can eliminate disasters and get rid of diseases, so people splash it whenever they like, regardless of whether it is splashed or not, although it is soaked from head to toe, it is still very happy. I saw the waves in full bloom in the crowd, forming a rainbow under the reflection of the sun, full of laughter and laughter everywhere.

In addition to splashing water, there are also mass song and dance activities. Old people in their seventies and eighties put on holiday costumes and came to the village square. Men, women and children form a circle and dance with the drums. Some dance "peacock dance", some dance "Euler Ah", some improvise, sing and dance, with beautiful movements, clear rhythm and moving songs. Jump in high spirits, or burst into cheers of "water, water, water", or end with the song of "Euler, Euler". Some men drink while dancing, such as getting drunk, staying up late, and even getting drunk on the dance floor.

During the festival, dragon boat races are held on the broad Lancang River. There are colorful flowers on the wooden boat, dressed as Jackie Chan, peacock and big fish, and dozens of young men and women are struggling to paddle forward. The audience on both sides of the strait is like a cloud, and the sound of gongs and drums and cheers resounded through the sky. After the competition, the winner came to the podium to receive the prize and drank the celebration wine.

In the evening, the village set off fireworks. This is the fireworks made by the Dai people. It uses a bamboo that is dozens of feet long, and its root is filled with gunpowder and other ingredients and placed on an elevated bamboo. When the fuse is lit and the gunpowder burns, bamboo shoots soar into the sky like rockets, emitting gorgeous fireworks in the air, just like flowers, and the stars are shining and dazzling, making the night sky of the festival particularly beautiful. Those who are promoted to the highest position will be appreciated and rewarded.

There will also be activities such as packet loss during the Songkran Festival. Young men and women seek partners through packet loss and express their affection.

April 13 every year is the Songkran Festival in Thailand. Gan Song is Sanskrit, which means "the sun moves to Aries, which is the beginning of a new solar year". The Songkran Festival lasts for three days and is the hottest time of the year in Thailand. Clean the house and burn old clothes before the festival to avoid bad luck. On the day of the festival, sand towers should be piled in the temple, colorful flags should be inserted and flowers should be presented to pray for a bumper harvest. In the evening, the perfume soaked in petals is sprinkled on the arms and backs of the elders to express their best wishes to the elders; Afterwards, the elders showered water on the heads of the younger generation to show their blessings.

The annual Thai New Year-Songkran Festival is coming. From April 13, the whole Thailand has been shrouded in jubilation for three consecutive days. At this moment, Thais usually splash water on each other to celebrate, so it is also called the Water-splashing Festival.

The traditional custom of splashing water means that you can wash away the setbacks of the past year and start a new year. Now the Songkran Festival is full of interesting ingredients, so don't be angry when you go to Thailand and get soaked at this time! In fact, the tradition of the Songkran Festival is not unique to Thailand. For example, neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia also celebrate this festival at the same time.

On this day, men, women and children will put on new clothes and bring offerings to the temple to worship monks. Housewives are the busiest in the new year. On New Year's Eve, they are busy cleaning the environment inside and outside the house, and old clothes or things at home will be set on fire, because according to tradition, not throwing away old things or useless things will bring bad luck. On the afternoon of April 13, people will wash the Buddha statue, and at the same time, the younger generation will pour perfume into the hands of their elders and parents, representing respect and blessing for their parents and elders.

In Pattaya, some celebrations are held at this time of the year, such as food exhibitions, float parades, beauty contests and various fireworks displays. In Chiang Mai, there will be beauty contests and parades. In Thailand, it is very important to pursue the distance carefully, so people will also take their ancestors' urns to temples to hold sacrificial ceremonies and pray for blessing.

[Edit this paragraph] De 'ang Water-splashing Festival

De 'ang people also celebrate the Songkran Festival. On the seventh day after Tomb-Sweeping Day, the most distinctive custom of the De 'ang People's Songkran Festival is to wash the hands and feet of the elders, in addition to splashing water for blessing and dancing elephant drums. At that time, the younger generation of each family should prepare a pot of hot water and put it in the center of the hall, invite their parents and other elders to come out and sit in the hall, kowtow to them and ask them to forgive their filial piety in the past year. The elders should also review what they have not done enough in the past year to set an example for the younger generation. Then, the younger generations wash their hands and feet for their elders and wish each other a harmonious and hardworking atmosphere in the coming year. If parents die, brothers and sisters, sister-in-law and brother-in-law will all become the objects of washing hands and feet. This custom comes from an old legend: On the seventh day after Tomb-Sweeping Day died, a disobedient son worked in the mountains. Seeing the scene of young birds feeding back, he realized something and decided to treat his mother well. At this time, his mother was preparing to come to the mountain to deliver food to her son and accidentally slipped. Her son came to help her, but she thought his son had come to hit her and ran into a tree. My son is very regretful. He cut down the tree and carved it into a statue of his mother. Every year, on the seventh day after Tomb-Sweeping Day's death, he would wash the statue in warm water sprinkled with petals. Later it evolved into a custom.

De 'ang Songkran Festival is similar to Dai Songkran Festival, but it is different. Most of them are held in the middle of April in the solar calendar. Near the festival, people are busy making new clothes, rice husks, hoses, buckets and other water splashing tools. Old believers gathered in the Buddhist temple, set up huts during the Songkran Festival to welcome the dust for the statue of Sakyamuni and set up water hoses. The hose is carved from a thick piece of wood, about four or five meters long, with new colored paintings and nicks on it. When splashing water, the girl carries the bucket and ends the basin, pours auspicious water into the trough, and flows to the Buddha statue in the hut to welcome the dust for the Buddha. Then, the venerable elders hold flowers, dip them in water and gently sprinkle them on the people around them to bless everyone and congratulate the beginning of the new year. At this time, people began to get excited and congratulate each other on the New Year. Young people hold buckets high above their heads and sprinkle water droplets on the hands of the elderly, wishing people happiness, health and longevity. The old people held out their hands, with water sticks in their hands, and read greetings to express their congratulations and blessings to the young people. After the ceremony, people lined up elephant feet drums and flocked to springs and rivers, singing and dancing, chasing each other and splashing water. The Songkran Festival is not only a ceremony for De 'ang people to celebrate the New Year, but also a good opportunity for young men and women to fall in love and find their sweethearts. De 'ang people are popular to string bamboo baskets for their favorite girls in the dead of night, and the most beautiful ones should be given to their favorite girls to express their love and test each other's reaction. Therefore, at this time, every girl often receives several bamboo baskets, but who do girls really love? It depends on who gave the bamboo basket on the girl's back on the day of the water-splashing festival. On this day, all the girls are carrying a delicate and beautiful bamboo basket, but whose is it? This time, the boys are very busy. They opened their eyes and stared at the bamboo basket on the girl's body, carefully identifying whether the bamboo basket that their sweetheart was carrying was the one they gave her. After the lovers meet, they splash water on each other to express their excitement and joy.

[Edit this paragraph] Dai Water-splashing Festival

The Dai nationality in China is a minority with a long cultural tradition and a population of nearly one million. They mainly live in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in southern Yunnan, Dehong Autonomous Prefecture in western Yunnan, Gengma, Menglian and other autonomous counties, and others are scattered all over Yunnan. Dai nationality has a long history, and Dai language belongs to Zhuang and Dai language branch of Sino-Tibetan language family. The whole people believe in Buddhism, but primitive religious activities are also very common, such as worship of gods, ghosts, agriculture, hunting, spiritual objects and so on.

Water-splashing Festival is actually the Dai New Year, and it is one of the most solemn traditional festivals in Xishuangbanna. Generally, it is held in the middle of June in Dai calendar (about ten days before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day in the lunar calendar) for three to four days. Generally, it is from April of Gregorian calendar 13 to June of 15.

I. Origin

The Dai Water-splashing Festival is also called "Bathing Buddha Festival", the Dai language is called "Bimai" (meaning New Year), and the Dehong area in Xishuangbanna is called "Shanghan" and "Shangjian". Both names are derived from Sanskrit, meaning turnover, change and transfer, which means that the sun runs around the zodiac and begins to transition to the New Year. Achang, De 'ang, Bulang, Wa and other ethnic groups celebrate this festival. Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and other countries also celebrated the Songkran Festival.

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.

Second, the legend

There is a vivid legend about the origin of the Songkran Festival: a long time ago, a cruel devil appeared in a place where the Dai people lived in compact communities. He did many evils, burning and robbing women everywhere, raping women, causing crop failure, making the people uneasy and miserable. People endured his cruelty and hated his guts, but no one could kill him.

The devil had six wives, but he was still not satisfied and took a beautiful and clever girl. Seven girls saw their compatriots living a miserable life and decided to find a way to destroy the devil. A clever girl hates the devil in her heart, but she doesn't show her feelings on the surface and pretends to be close to him. One night, the devil snatched back many treasures and slaves from the outside. When the demon king was unhappy, she explored the secret of strangling the demon king with her hair. So, in the dead of night, while the devil was asleep, the girl quietly pulled out a hair of the devil and strangled him. In an instant, the devil's head rolled to the ground, but as soon as his head landed, a fire broke out on the ground. On the verge of disaster, the girls immediately picked up their heads and the fire went out. However, where the devil's head rolls, there will be disaster, which will be thrown into the river and the river will overflow; Buried in the ground, it stinks everywhere, and only the devil's wife can hold it safely.

In order to avoid disaster to the people, the girls took turns to hold the devil's head, one for one day. A day in the sky is equal to a year on earth. Every year, the girls take turns, which is the Dai New Year. With admiration for the girls, the Dai people poured clean water on the girls holding their heads to wash away their blood stains and the fatigue of adults as a blessing.

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.

Three. Main activities

The Dai people's water-splashing festival lasts for three or 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 "boredom day", and "boredom" means "emptiness" According to custom, this day is neither the year before nor the year after, so it is called "empty day"; The third day is called "Maipaya Wanma". It is said that the soul of Mapaya Wanma returned to Earth with a new calendar. People are used to seeing this day as "the arrival of the King of Heaven", which is the New Year of the Dai calendar.

During festivals, Dai men, women and children put on festive costumes, carry clear water, go to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha first, and then start splashing water on each other. You splash me, I splash you, and one splash blooms in the air, symbolizing auspiciousness, happiness and health. The bright and glittering water drops in the hands of young people also symbolize sweet love. Everyone threw water at each other, and there were baptisms, blessings and songs everywhere. Water splashing is laughing, and the water splashing festival has become an ocean of joy.

Apart from splashing water, the contents of the Water-Splashing Festival also include folk activities such as catching pendulum, dragon boat racing, bathing Buddha, chanting, singing Zhangha, fighting cocks, jumping peacock dance, jumping white elephants, throwing bags and flying lanterns, as well as other artistic performances and economic and trade exchanges.

1, Water Splashing Festival "Fu": Bathing Buddha

On the "Mairi" day, early in the morning, people will pick flowers and green leaves to worship in Buddhist temples, and bring clean water to "bathe the Buddha"-welcome the dust for the Buddha. After the "Buddha bath", they began to collectively splash water on each other. Groups of young men and women used various containers to hold water, pouring out of the streets, chasing and playing, splashing everyone out of the water. "When the water is splashed, the family will be crazy" and "when it is wet, it will be fun for a lifetime"! The waves symbolizing auspiciousness, happiness and health are blooming in the air, and people are splashing and laughing loudly, soaking wet and in high spirits. ...

2. Songkran Festival "Love": Packet Loss

Songkran Festival is also a wonderful time for unmarried young men and women to find love and cultivate happiness. During the Songkran Festival, unmarried young men and women of the Dai people like to play the game of "losing packets". The flower bag carefully made by the girl is a token of love. On the day of packet loss, the girls tried their best to dress up, then came to the "package field" with flower umbrellas and small flower bags, separated from the boys by thirty or forty steps, and began to throw flower bags at each other. If the young man can't get the bag thrown by the girl, he has to put the flowers prepared in advance in the girl's hair. If the girl can't get the bag thrown by the boy, she has to put the flowers in the boy's chest ... so he gradually chose the other person and a series of romantic love stories began.

3. Water-splashing Festival "Power": Dragon Boat Race

Dragon boat race is one of the most exciting activities of the Water-splashing Festival, which is usually held on the third day of the Maypaya Night Horse Festival. On that day, people dressed in festive costumes gathered on the banks of Lancang River and Ruili River to watch the dragon boat race. There is a green dragon boat moored on the river, and dozens of lean sailors sit on it. At the command, the dragon boat ready to go flies forward like an arrow. Suddenly, the drums, gongs, trumpets and cheers of the whole river came and went, and the sounds corresponded. The festive atmosphere here has reached a climax. ...

4. Water-splashing Festival "Dance": Elephant Foot Dance, peacock dance.

Dai people can sing and dance well, and dancing is indispensable in the water-splashing festival. Large-scale dances are mainly arranged on the third day of the Songkran Festival, such as Elephant Foot Dance and peacock dance. From the dolls of seven or eight years old to the elderly of seventy or eighty years old, they all put on holiday costumes and gathered in the village square to participate in group dances. Elephant foot dance is warm, steady and chic. Dancers form a circle, dance with manganese gongs and elephant drums, and cheer "me, me" or "water, water" while jumping! Peacock dance is beautiful, elegant and lyrical, which is the soul of Dai dance. Dancing is based on various postures of peacocks, and in the recreation of interest and beauty, it embodies the aesthetic purport of Dai children. There are also many dancers who indulge their improvisation. Some sing and dance, and some even drink while dancing. They are crazy and unrestrained, and they are not tired after dancing for days and nights.

5. Songkran Festival "Goldman Sachs": Let the lanterns of Goldman Sachs and Kong Ming fly.

Raising the height is another reserved program of the Songkran Festival. Goldman Sachs is a kind of fireworks made by Dai people. The bottom of the bamboo pole is filled with gunpowder and other ingredients, placed on a high shelf made of bamboo, connected by wires, and often set off at night. When lifting, igniting the fuse will make the gunpowder burn, which will produce a strong thrust and push the bamboo into the sky like a rocket. Bamboo emits white smoke, making a whizzing scream, and at the same time emitting gorgeous fireworks in the air, just like flowers, dazzling and wonderful. On the ground, cheers, cheers come and go, and there are endless comments and exclamations, which are very lively. The stockade flying higher and farther makes people feel more glorious and auspicious.

Lighting lanterns is also a unique activity in Dai areas. At night, people light lanterns and candles in the open space of the square, put them into homemade balloons, and use the buoyancy of the air to fly lanterns into the sky. Bright lanterns fly higher and higher and farther in the dark. People use this to commemorate the ancient sage Kong Ming.

Fourth, inherit the value.

The Water-Splashing Festival is a comprehensive stage to fully display the traditional culture of the Dai people, including water culture, music and dance culture, food culture, costume culture and folk worship. It is an important window to study the Dai history and has high academic value. The artistic performances such as palm-slapping and white elephant dance displayed in the Water-splashing Festival can give people artistic enjoyment and help them understand the national characteristics of the Dai people, such as understanding nature, respecting Buddha in love the water and being gentle and calm. At the same time, the Songkran Festival is also an important link to strengthen the great unity of the people of all ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna, which has played a positive role in the friendly cooperation and exchanges between Xishuangbanna and Southeast Asian countries and promoted the social, economic and cultural development of Xishuangbanna.

The state attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 20th, 2006, this folk custom was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.

[Edit this paragraph] Myanmar Songkran Festival

Songkran Festival is also a traditional festival of Myanmar people, similar to the Spring Festival in China. It is usually held in the middle of April in the Gregorian calendar and usually lasts for 3 or 4 days.

According to Myanmar customs, during festivals, men, women and children can splash water on each other to show the intention of washing the old and welcoming the new. A cultured person, with fragrant cherry branches, dipped a silver bowl in clear water soaked with rose petals and gently shook it on others. Ordinary people like to pour the whole bucket and basin, or even spray it with a hose. Children who spray adults with water guns will not be scolded. The more people splash, the happier they are, because water symbolizes happiness.

There are different legends about the origin of the Songkran Festival in Myanmar. There is a saying: One year, the king of Myanmar met a fairy in his palace, and he was very happy. He ordered people to mix spices and clear water and sprinkle them on the officials of the civil and military forces to show that they would wash away the old and welcome the new.

Dai people living in "Peacock Town"

The Dai people's New Year is the Water-splashing Festival. On the tenth morning after Tomb-Sweeping Day every year, people bathe and change clothes, put on bright clothes, go to the Buddhist temple to bathe the Buddha and listen to the scriptures, build sand pagodas, and then splash water on each other as a symbol of good luck. According to legend, in the new year, the more water you splash, the happier you will be. At the same time, activities such as dragon boat race, packet loss, setting off sparks and lighting lanterns are very lively. At night, people are still immersed in dancing and laughing.

Dai people mainly live in Yunnan province. Most Dai people live in Pingba area, a valley surrounded by mountains, with abundant rainfall and spring-like seasons. It is rich in cash crops such as rice, sugarcane, camphor and coffee, as well as rare birds and animals such as wild elephants, rhinoceroses, golden monkeys and peacocks. They are called "Peacock Land"