New Rice Festival of Wa Ethnic Minority in Menglian County, Puer
Short Brief of the Festival
- Chinese Name: 新米节
- English Name: New Rice Festival
- Ethnic Group: Wa Ethnic Minority
- Location: Menglian County, Yunnan Province, China
“New Rice Festival” is a day to celebrate the maturity of rice and the harvest season. Due to differences in climate, the timing of grain maturity varies in different regions, villages, and even households. However, it was generally held in the seventh or eighth month of the lunar calendar (September or October in the Va calendar). The date is determined by selecting an auspicious day based on the maturity of individual crops, and the day of the animal sign of the parent or grandparent who has passed away is considered the best. The purpose is to invite the spirits of the ancestors to come back and share the new rice with their family, and to ask for their blessings for the happiness of their descendants, good weather, and abundant food. In order for the Va people from different regions to be able to celebrate the “New Rice Festival” together, in 1991, the Cangyuan Va Autonomous County and the Ximeng Va Autonomous County jointly decided to designate the 14th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar as the “New Rice Festival” for the Va people.
Overview
The New Rice Festival is a traditional celebration of the Wa ethnic minority, marking the ripening of rice, celebrating the harvest, and tasting the new rice. Due to varying climates, the rice matures at different times in different regions, villages, and even households, leading to different festival dates. Generally, the New Rice Festival is celebrated in the seventh or eighth month of the lunar calendar (the ninth or tenth month of the Wa calendar). In 1991, Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County and Ximeng Wa Autonomous County jointly decided to set the fourteenth day of the eighth lunar month as the unified New Rice Festival for the Wa people, allowing them to celebrate the festival together.
Significance
The New Rice Festival is not only a celebration of the harvest but also an occasion for ancestor worship and expressing gratitude. The festival date is chosen based on the maturity of the grain and the zodiac day of deceased parents or grandparents. This is intended to invite the spirits of ancestors to join the family in tasting the new rice and sharing in the joy, while also seeking their blessings for family happiness, good weather, and abundant crops.
Activities
- Preparation Before the Festival:
- Each household prepares new rice, offerings, and drinks before the festival.
- Villagers decorate their homes and prepare traditional attire.
- On the Day of the Festival:
- Song and Dance Performances: On the day of the New Rice Festival, local Wa people dress in festive costumes and celebrate with singing and dancing. The event begins with the cheerful drumbeats of “The Wa People Sing New Songs.”
- Ancestor Worship Ceremony: Ancestral worship is conducted, offering new rice and other items to the ancestors to express gratitude and pray for a bountiful harvest and happiness in the coming year.
- Tasting New Rice: Invited participants and villagers gather to taste the new rice together, sharing the joy brought by the harvest.
- Community Celebration:
- The local community organizes various celebrations, including song and dance performances and communal feasts.
- Villagers come together to share new rice dishes and exchange insights and experiences from the past year.
Cultural Significance
The New Rice Festival is one of the most important festivals for the Wa people, reflecting their reverence and gratitude for nature and life. Through singing, dancing, and ancestor worship, the Wa people express their good wishes for the new harvest and strengthen their sense of community and cultural identity.
Conclusion
The New Rice Festival is not just a celebration of the harvest but a significant occasion for the Wa people to express gratitude towards nature, ancestors, and life. The annual New Rice Festival, filled with joy and emotion, showcases the Wa people’s love for life and pursuit of happiness. Through this celebration, the cultural traditions of the Wa people are preserved and promoted, and the unity and harmony of the community are further strengthened.
