Yifan Festival is a festival unique to the Mulao people. What is its origin?

There are three theories about the origin, as follows:

One:

It is said that when the ancestor of the Mulao people was in prison for a crime, he received the custody of Liang and Wu. He sympathized and released the ancestor late at night. But it was pitch dark that night, and there were pursuers behind. At the critical moment, he suddenly saw a girl in white, leading a white horse to come to the rescue. The ancestor rode his horse and flew into the air to escape the danger. After the ancestors became successful, they did not forget the life-saving grace of Liang, Wu and Miss Baima, and designated the day of death as the "Yifan Festival".

Second:

It is said that during the Tianxi period of the Song Dynasty, Mulaoshan Township was invaded by foreign enemies. Liang and Wu led the villagers to fight fiercely, but unfortunately died heroically. In the fourth year of Jiaxi Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, he specially appointed Liang and Wu as officials and built a niche hall. It was stipulated that every year of Hai, Mao and the last year, Sanyuan Master would be invited to pray for blessings from gods and gods, praying for the safety of people and animals, and a good harvest.

Third:

The Yifan Festival evolved from commemorating the merits of the Mulao heroes Luo Yi and Luo Ying, their father and daughter. Legend has it that father and daughter Luo Yi and Luo Ying were able to shoot lions and tame cattle, and they were also good at reclaiming wasteland, so that the Mulao people had enough food and clothing. To commemorate their achievements, villages gather to beat gongs, drums and sing songs. Over time, it evolved into a festival to fulfill ancestors’ wishes.

Nowadays, people still sing and dance during festivals, including lion and dragon dances, singing colorful tunes, and lively laughter echoing in the village. The young people were even more happy. They went for a "walk" in the wild. "Walking" is a social activity for young men and women.

They answered each other with songs at the foot of the mountain, on the slope, and on the roadside. The young man first sings an "invitation song". If the girl is willing to communicate with him, he will sing to express his agreement. When the two are in love, they will sing a love song. The melodious singing is intertwined with the new yearnings of the young people, adding new life to the ancient Yifan Festival.

Extended information:

Inheritance value

After the founding of New China, the Yifan Festival was reformed and became a way for the Mulao people to celebrate the harvest and inherit and carry forward the national culture. Art festivals and inter-festival rituals have been gradually simplified, feudal patriarchal things have been abandoned, and new dramas, new songs, sports competitions and economic and trade activities have been added.

The Yifan Festival is unique to the Mulao people and is the crystallization of the long-term accumulation of beliefs and customs of the Mulao people. It embodies the essence of Mulao culture and becomes an important symbol of Mulao culture. Many traditional folk customs of the Mulao people are increasingly diluted, and the cultural space for inheritance based on the rice festival is gradually shrinking. There are few successors to the inheritance and they are in urgent need of rescue and protection.

Baidu Encyclopedia—Yifan Festival