New Rice Festival (Xinmijie) of Jingpo Ethnic Minority
Introduction of the Festival
Chinese Name:景颇族新米节/尝新节
English Name: New Rice Festival (Xinmijie) of Jingpo Ethnic Minority
After exchanging greetings, preparations for the festival meal commence. Women and young girls fry grains, pound glutinous rice, make flatbreads, boil new rice, and gather wild vegetables from the mountains. Young men joyfully sing as they fish in the river. According to Jingpo tradition, chickens and pigs cannot be slaughtered on this day.Before the feast begins, the host performs a prayer ceremony. They arrange flatbreads, pounded rice, water and wine, dried fish, and dried rats in a propitious order, expressing wishes to the spirits for peace and prosperity for humans and livestock, favorable weather, and the prevention of disasters. If their wishes are fulfilled, they promise to sacrifice a cow in the future.
During the New Rice Festival ceremony, respected elders narrate the origins of the grains. People enjoy drinking, laughing, and discussing agricultural practices such as the appropriate timing for planting, techniques for irrigating fields, skills for transplanting seedlings, methods and timing for dryland sowing, land clearing designs, and crop rotation knowledge. The New Rice Festival is a holiday celebrating harvest and promoting the exchange of agricultural techniques.
Local Activities of the New Rice Festival (Xinmijie)
- Rice Harvesting: The festival begins with the community participating in the harvesting of rice. This usually involves traditional methods and is a communal effort, highlighting the importance of teamwork and cooperation among villagers.
- Offering to Ancestral Spirits: Before cooking the new rice, a traditional ceremony is held to offer the first batch of rice to ancestral spirits and deities. This act of reverence expresses gratitude and seeks blessings for a good harvest and prosperity.
- Cooking New Rice: After the ceremonial offerings, the new rice is cooked. Traditionally, this rice is prepared in various dishes, showcasing the culinary diversity of the Jingpo people. Families often prepare special foods using the new rice.
- Feasting and Celebrations: The New Rice Festival is marked by community feasting, where families and neighbors gather to share meals. This is a time for joyous celebrations, and food plays a central role in the festivities. Dishes made from the new rice, fish, meat, and seasonal vegetables are abundant.
- Traditional Music and Dance: Cultural performances are an essential component of the festival. The Jingpo people engage in traditional songs, dances, and music, often showcasing vibrant costumes and instruments. These performances celebrate their heritage and foster a sense of community.
- Games and Contests: Various traditional games and competitions may be organized during the festival, including friendly contests that test skill and dexterity. This may involve activities like archery, wrestling, and other local games that bring the community together in a spirit of fun and camaraderie.
- Cultural Exhibitions: Sometimes, cultural exhibitions are held to showcase the Jingpo’s rich traditions, crafts, and skills. This can include displays of traditional clothing, handmade crafts, and local agricultural practices.
- Sharing and Exchange: Communities often engage in sharing and exchanging food and gifts during the festival, symbolizing unity and generosity. This fosters good relationships among community members and strengthens social ties.
- Spiritual Reflection: The festival is also a time for spiritual reflection, where individuals may engage in personal prayers or seek blessings for health, prosperity, and well-being for the coming year.
- Community Bonding: Throughout the festival, there is a strong emphasis on community bonding and cooperation, reinforcing relationships among families and neighbors and creating a sense of belonging.
