The Yi are one of China’s 56 recognized ethnic groups, representing a vibrant and colorful culture with special languages, traditions and festivals. Distributed mainly across southwest China, with large populations in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi, the New Year is one of the most important and joyous festivals of the year.
Who are the Yi people?
The Yi ethnic group, known historically as the Lolo, consists of more than 8 million people. The Yi people have their own language, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman language family, and their own writing system. Traditionally, Yi people engaged in farming. Agricultural methods of life predominate: rice, corn, and millet are their usual foodstuffs.
Animism, ancestor worship, and various local beliefs form the essential elements of their culture. Traditionally, the Yi are a people with a rich oral tradition, with storytelling, music and dancing passed down through the generations. They are also well known for their special dress, especially at festivals, where people dress in brightly coloured clothes decorated with intricate patterns.
Preparations for the Yi New Year
Preparations for Yi New Year begin well before the actual celebration. Houses are first thoroughly cleaned, and special food is prepared. These include rice dishes, pork and chicken, and a variety of local vegetables, all in traditional recipes passed down through the generations. The Yi people also make “New Year cakes,” usually out of sticky rice, which play an important part in the celebrations.
Traditional Music and Dance
The Yi nationality is known for its lively folksongs and dances as a whole. The dancers, in their richly colored costumes and adorned with silver ornaments, dance with abandon to the rhythmic beat of drums, flutes, and stringed instruments.
One of the most representative dance performances during the Yi New Year celebration is “Qiang Kou”- circular dance, holding hands and synchronized gestures to create a symphony of unity and joy together.
Rites and Ceremonies
Yi New Year rituals aim to ensure good harvests, community protection and good health. Prayers and offerings are made by the Bimo priest or shaman, and mostly consist of rice wine, fruits, and animals. These are believed to connect the living with their ancestors and gods, and are a request to bless the people with prosperity and happiness.
New Year’s Day
The first day of feasting features more socializing for Yi New Year. Relatives are visited, gifts are exchanged and there are a multitude of communal activities which are carried out. Firecrackers and pyrotechnics were set off in some areas to dispel evil spirits. One can also expect to see “lion dances” and other traditional performances down in the streets as the Yi come together in revelry, celebrating this common heritage and culture.
Cultural significance of Yi New Year’s Day: The Yi New Year is more than a holiday. It is a time when homage is paid to ancestors, social ties are strengthened. Festivals reflect a closeness with the land and with the community. The identity and cultural heritage of the Yi people is reiterated through rituals, dances, and group meals that pass on customs to the younger individuals of the community.
To the Yi who celebrate the Yi New Year -what is called Bimo New Year- this is a festival of color and meaning. It is inextricably linked with their spiritual life, agricultural work, and ethnic identity. The rituals, feasting, music, and dancing mark the cycle of life, thanksgiving for the harvest, and prayers for blessings in the coming year. This is a time of joy and renewal for the Yi community, through which they link themselves with their past and their future.
Citations:
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