The Zhuang Song Festival is an important festival for Zhuang People.
The Zhuang Song Festival is also known as San Yue San, which means 'Third Month's Third (Day)', as it is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month in the traditional Chinese calendar. It is a public holiday in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, when people can enjoy a two-day holiday.
In 2022 it falls on April 3. There will be a four-day public holiday in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: April 3 – 5, 2022.
Zhuang Song Festival Facts
Zhuang: Sam Nyied Sam
Chinese: 三月三 Sānyuèsān /san-yhwere-san/
Alternative name 1: 歌圩 Gēxū /ger-sshyoo/ 'Song Country Fair'
Alternative name 2: 歌婆节 Gēpójiē /ger-por-jyeah/ 'Song Matron Festival'
Date: Chinese lunar calendar month 3 day 3 (April 3, 2022)
Importance: the most ceremonious festival for Zhuang People
Celebrations: singing, bamboo pole dancing
The Zhuang Song Festiva Dates (2020–2022)
| 2020 | March 26 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | April 14 |
| 2022 | April 3 |
An Important Traditional Ethnic Festival
The Song Festival is not only the most ceremonious festival for Zhuang people, but also an important traditional festival among many other ethnic groups, including Han, Yao, Dong, Shui, Maonan, Miao, and Dong people.
How Do Chinese Celebrate San Yue San Festival?
Every year on the third of the third lunar month, Zhuang people and people from other ethnic groups will gather together to celebrate the festival by holding various folk activities. Some of the most traditional customs and activities include 'song meetings', bamboo pole dancing, steaming five-color glutinous rice, making colored eggs, bumping eggs, and throwing embroidered balls.
A song meeting in the Zhuang Song Festival.
Singing folk songs is the most important activity of the San Yue San Festival. Zhuang people are very fond of singing. Zhuang people gather outside in the fields to hold 'song meetings'. Their songs are about life, work, love, happiness, sadness, and historical events.
The Song Festival is also a good opportunity for young people to engage romantically. Young men and women usually sing in antiphonal style (alternately singing to one another). If a man and a woman fall in love with each other, they will give a gift to each other. The woman will usually give an embroidered ball to the man she accepts.
Bamboo Pole Dancing
Bamboo pole dancing is another highlight of San Yue San Festival. Generally, there are 10 bamboos poles needed, two are the 'pillow' poles, and the other eight are laid across the 'pillow' poles. Eight young men hold the eight bamboo poles' ends facing each other in pair.
They will raise and lower the bamboo to the accompaniment of music. Girls jump and hop between the poles while singing and performing. Those whose ankles touch the bamboo poles are eliminated from the game. The last girl left is the winner.
Visitors are invited to join in this dance. Underlying this fascinating dance is the auspicious meaning: success in career and life (for the winner).
Steaming Five-Color Glutinous Rice
On day three of the third lunar month, Zhuang people use special wild flowers and leaves collected in the mountains to produce natural dyes to color the glutinous rice (usually red, yellow, blue, purple, and white).
They set up a singing tent in their villages, and put out the five-color glutinous rice in the tents. People young and old sing and dance around the tents, and eat the five-color sticky rice together.
From: https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/zhuang-san-yue-san-song-festival.htm
