What are the traditional festivals of Dong nationality?

In all countries and nationalities in the world, there are often festivals similar to Valentine's Day, on which people look for life partners. In China, there is also a festival among Dong compatriots who report to Beijing, which is called "begging for onions and garlic". Then let the traditional festivals of the Dong people introduce you to the Dong people's onion and garlic festival in Beijing.

The third day of the third lunar month is a traditional festival of Baojing Dong nationality, which is a unique traditional festival in zhenyuan county, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, and is also called "Sowing Festival". There is a sad love legend about begging for onion and garlic festival. It is said that a couple of Dong men and women were punished by Zhai Lao for fighting for free marriage. The two lovers were so indignant that they threw themselves into a deep pool for double suicide.

To commemorate the couple, unmarried young Dong students who reported to Beijing asked their beloved girls for baskets and onions and garlic on March 3rd, and they made promises to each other, which is why people called March 3rd "Begging for Onions and Garlic" for Dong people who reported to Beijing.

In the early morning of the onion and garlic festival, unmarried girls meet to fish and shrimp in paddy fields and streams near the village entrance, light a bonfire for barbecue, or cook a hot and sour soup pot, and enjoy it with Dong young men who come to ask for a laundry list (laundry list is a small basket made of bamboo strips for fish and shrimp).

During the picnic, flirting continued, and seemingly casual girls were actually secretly choosing their sweetheart. After the picnic, the girls went to the vegetable garden to pull onions and garlic, and then took them to the pond in the village for cleaning. Then, according to local customs, stand under the old tree with bamboo baskets lined up, waiting for your sweetheart to come and ask for them.

People came from all directions, including parents and relatives of both men and women. These young people saw their favorite girl and went to beg her. After getting the bamboo basket, pull up the girl and run. At this time, the crowd cheered, and the eyes of relatives of both men and women standing in the crowd were happy.

At noon, all the entrances to Dazhai are guarded by Dong women, and the guests in the outer village are not allowed to leave without a sip of "gate-blocking wine". The elders and distinguished guests in the village walked into the Lusheng field hand in hand, the iron cannon sounded, and people joined hands to follow the rhythm of Lusheng in a circle and danced slowly.

In the evening, we will hold a "Dragon Banquet" dinner, with delicious food on a long table and the host and guests sitting around. Sing wine songs to adjust the atmosphere when drinking. It's interesting to answer while singing. After dinner, people came to Huapo and the big trees in the bamboo forest to watch young men and women blowing leaves and singing love songs. The lingering melodious songs floated into the night, and some people stayed up all night.

It is reported that the Dong people in Beijing hold the onion and garlic festival on March 3, which has a long history, simple flavor and unique characteristics. It is of great value to study the development history, national art, ethnology, folklore and history of the Dong nationality in China.