Jianshui Festivals and Events
Jianshui is an ethnically diverse County where the major ethnic groups are Han, Yi, Hui, Hani, Dai and Miao, etc. The minority groups take up 33% of the total population. Different ethnic groups form diverse festivals and activities in Jianshui during the long-term social practice.
festivals in Jianshui
1. The Torch Festival
It is the grandest festival of Yi people. Every year on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month, Yi villages are all to prepare a big feast and have a joyous gathering. At night, villagers light their torches and shout to march through the field. It means scaring away the devil and welcoming the harvest.
2. Kuzhazha Festival
Celebrated in the middle of the 6th lunar month, Kuzhazha Festival is also called June New Year. It is the grandest traditional festival of Hani people as hilarious as Spring Festival of Han people. Hani People prepare Long street banquet at that day.
3. Huashan Festival(花山节)
Generally, Huashan festival of Miao is held around May 1st every year. Flower pole is the significant symbol of the festival. On this day, Miao people wear traditional costume, perform Lusheng(芦笙表演) and choose the king of flower pole.
Activities in Jianshui
1. Jianshui Purple Pottery Cultural Tourism Festival
Jianshui Purple Pottery Cultural Tourism Festival is a creative festival that deeply integrate the traditional culture, purple pottery culture and tourism culture. It can be said that Jianshui Purple Pottery Cultural Tourism Festival is an important part of the promotion of Jianshui Culture. As a cultural product closely related to Confucian culture, Jianshui purple pottery takes a place in the Confucius cultural festival every year. During the festival, you can participate in purple pottery making.
2. Jianshui Confucius Culture Festival
In order to commemorate Confucius, the founder of Confucian school, since 2005, Jianshui Confucius cultural festival has been designated on September 28th. Its theme is "to worship Confucius, the eternal master of China, and to show the civilization of Jianshui". During the festival, grand opening ceremony and traditional memorial ceremony are held. Therefore, Confucius cultural festival has become a renowned cultural card.
3. Lantern Fair of Yi(彝族灯会)
According to the historical records, lantern fair of Yi has been more than 200 years history. Celebrated on the 16th day of 1st lunar month, it is one of the important activities of Yi people. It symbolizes the end of annual Spring Festival, the spring ploughing will begin.
