Duan Festival of Shui Ethnic Group
The Duan Festival is the most significant and grand celebration of the Shui (Sui) ethnic group. It is a time filled with rich traditions, cultural performances, and communal gatherings.
Timing and Calculation of the Duan Festival
The timing of the Duan Festival is based on the Sui calendar and Sui Book, which, like other calendars, divides the year into twelve months and four seasons. However, the Sui calendar begins the year in the lunar ninth month and ends it in the lunar eighth month, differing from the more common Gregorian or Chinese calendars. Days are also marked using the twelve earthly branches.
The festival is celebrated between the last ten days of the twelfth month and the second month of the following year in the Sui calendar (which corresponds to the last ten days of the eighth lunar month to the first ten days of the tenth lunar month). The festival is observed in turns by different villages on every Pig Day (known as “Hai” day in the twelve earthly branches). This custom is referred to as “Borrowing Duan” or “Gua Festival”, as locals call it.
“Borrowing Duan” and “Spending Mao”
In Shui tradition, the festival also follows a unique rule: “If you spend the Duan Festival, you can’t spend the Mao Festival, and vice versa.” The Mao Festival, associated with the rabbit, is another celebration based on the twelve earthly branches. Different regions celebrate Duan or Mao, following a specific turn based on tradition, and these turns must not be mixed or reversed.
The Legend Behind the Custom
A widely shared legend explains the origin of this custom. In ancient times, the Shui forefather, Gongdeng, had two sons. The older son settled in the upper Neiwatao area, while the younger son lived in the lower Jiuqian area. They had originally agreed to reunite at their father’s home for celebrations after the harvest, but the long distance made it difficult to visit frequently. To resolve this, the elder brother celebrated the Duan Festival, and the younger brother observed the Mao Festival. This division continues today, with clans generally celebrating their respective festivals.
Pre-Festival Preparations and Rituals
Before the Duan Festival, families clean their homes thoroughly, sweeping the yards and tidying up rooms. The day before the festival, villages drum and beat gongs to signify the farewell to the old year and welcoming the new year.
On the eve of the Duan Festival, families slaughter chickens and ducks, prepare fresh rice, and stew soups with fresh fish. A key dish for the celebration is fish stuffed with chives, which is made as an offering to ancestors. Meat, except for fish, is avoided during this time, as it is believed that in ancient times, ancestors cured diseases using a mixture of nine types of vegetables, fish, and shrimp. The fish is stuffed with ingredients like chives, chili, onion, ginger, and garlic and then steamed or boiled.
Offering to Ancestors
Sacrifices are made to ancestors on New Year’s Eve (Dog day) and the first morning of the New Year (Pig day). The offerings include fish stuffed with chives and other food, with fish being the main dish. This practice connects the Shui people with their ancestors and ensures a prosperous and healthy year ahead.
Festival Celebrations
When the Duan Festival arrives, it brings a vibrant community spirit. Young men and women gather at the Duan slope to play instruments, sing, and dance. Various activities take place, including:
- Horse races
- Bullfights
- Theatrical performances
- Film screenings
- Feasts with friends and relatives
The festival attracts thousands of participants from nearby ethnic groups, including Miao, Dong, Bouyei, Zhuang, Yao, and Han, who all come together to partake in the festivities. The Duan Festival is a lively time of cultural exchange and celebration, reflecting the unity and traditions of the Shui ethnic group.
