Liuyueliu (June 6th) Festival or Valentine’s Day of Yi Ethnic Mniority in Lufeng County, Chuxiong
Basic Introduction
- Chinese Name: 禄丰县广通镇彝族“六月六”彝族情人节
- English Name: Liuyueliu (June 6th) Festival or Valentine’s Day of Yi Ethnic Mniority in Lufeng County, Chuxiong
- Location: Guangtong Town of Lufeng County, Chuxiong/禄丰县广通镇
The “June 6” Lover Culture Festival is a gathering of the ancient and primitive culture of the Yi people, which has been passed down for thousands of years in the Guantong area. It systematically showcases the marriage, friendship, mate selection, and sacrificial customs of the Yi people in Chuxiong Prefecture, Guantong area. The festival focuses on presenting distinctive aspects of Yi culture, including traditional Yi costumes, embroidery, mate selection, marriage customs, sacrificial ceremonies, duet singing, fishing, hunting, farming, entertainment, and cuisine. It serves as an important platform for understanding and exploring the traditional culture of the Yi people.
Origins of the Festival
Chinese culture is vast and profound, and for over two thousand years, the Yi people’s migration, hunting, and agricultural lives have accumulated many romantic and colorful elements of mate selection and marriage culture. The “June 6” Lover Culture Festival in Guantong Town originates from a beautiful legend.
It is said that during the early Han Dynasty, in a summer of the Year of the Dragon, Guantong experienced continuous rain for 28 days. On the night of the fifth day of the sixth lunar month, dark clouds filled the sky, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder, and the rain intensified into a torrential downpour, turning Guantong into a vast sea. On the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, red clouds appeared on the horizon, and the sky cleared up with purple clouds dancing. Local residents and merchants began to take their soaked silks, clothes, and utensils outside to dry. In this unexpected drying session, the hills surrounding the small basin of Guantong looked like a vibrant painting, with the entire basin surrounded by a scene of reds and greens. The young Yi men and women were stirred by this wonderful spectacle, igniting love and fulfilling romantic connections. The beautiful daughter-in-law of the Yi king also hung her lovely clothes outside, attracting the attention of many. Thus, the Lover’s Festival of “June 6, drying red and green, seeking companions” was born.
Since then, every year on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month of the lunar calendar, the Yi people from Guantong, Tuo’an, and the Jiangpo Township area of Mouding County gather in the green mountains and rivers to celebrate. On the day of the festival, families bring out their bedding and beautiful clothing to dry. Elders carry chickens to the fields or mountains to sacrifice to the mountain deities and dragon veins, praying for prosperity and abundant harvests. Meanwhile, the young men and women meet in the mountains for duet singing, expressing their love and searching for their ideal partners. This is how the “June 6” Lover Culture Festival in Guantong Town came to be.
Folk Customs
- Bimo’s Sacrifice to the Mountain Deity Tree: The Bimo (the Yi shaman) sets up an offering table in front of the sacred tree, recites blessing words at the table, offers wine, and slaughters a chicken to honor the mountain deity. He sprinkles chicken blood on the mountain deity tree, scatters rice towards the crowd, and throws it to the left, right, and behind him, praying for abundant harvests, prosperous livestock, and yearly surplus.
- Yi Girls’ Costume Pageant: The costume pageant is a grand stage for Yi girls to showcase their beauty. It is also an important way for Yi girls to display their skills and charming appearance to attract and find a desirable partner. On the day of the festival, Yi girls hang their beautifully embroidered clothing at designated spots and stand behind their garments. Judges assess the costumes in order and announce the winners on the spot. Many young men also participate in the costume competition to find their significant other.
- Duet Singing of Love Songs: The duet singing of love songs among the Yi is a folk entertainment activity where unmarried young men and women seek partners and express their feelings; married individuals share their joys and sorrows with friends. During the festival gathering, people sing and dance near the singing grounds or in the fields, either singing to each other from a distance or whispering sweetly face to face.
- Grease Pole Climbing Competition: In Yi weddings, it is customary to hold a grease pole climbing competition. Young men demonstrate their bravery, agility, and heroic spirit while climbing the greasy pole. The winner is determined by reaching the top of the pole to retrieve a red cloth and a piece of pork, which earns him the admiration of the girls and the praise of the crowd.
- Exchanging Tokens and Tying Red Strings: During the hand-holding dance, Yi men and women often use subtle language or sign language to communicate. If a man holds a woman’s hand tightly once and she responds, it indicates an interest in conversation. If he holds her hand tightly twice, and she responds likewise, it suggests she is willing to continue to dance with him in the next tune. Holding tightly three times and getting a threefold response signifies a willingness for the woman to talk more intimately with the man. At this point, they exchange tokens, which are usually hand-embroidered insoles or flower bags made by the woman. The Yi girl ties a red thread around the man’s left wrist, making a tight knot. This tradition is based on the belief that tying a blue thread around the left wrist can capture a person’s soul, ensuring their health, safety, and good fortune; while tying a red thread can bind his affections and make him remember the thread-bearer, remaining faithful to her for life.
