Most of the 55 ethnic minorities in China celebrate Spring Festival. They celebrate by dancing and singing, among other festivities. The following are some ways the minorities in China celebrate the arrival of New Year.
蒙古族
蒙古族人民將春節稱為“白節”,將農歷正月稱為“白月”。原來,蒙古族人以“白”為吉祥。除夕午夜,全家開始飲酒進餐。初一早晨,男女跨上駿馬,奔向“浩特”(村鎮),挨個串蒙古包。串包時,人們載歌載舞。
The Mongolian ethnic people call the Spring Festival White Festival and the first month of the lunar calendar White Month. On the eve of the lunar New Year, the whole family wine and dine. In the morning, people visit friends tent by tent.
壯 族
壯族的春節從年三十至正月初一、初二,共三天,稱為“新年節”。壯族人過春節要舉行對歌、打陀螺、跳舞、賽球等文體活動。
The Zhuang ethnic people celebrate the Spring Festival for three days. They sing in antiphonal way, dance, spin tops, and have ball games.
土家族
土家族人過年的文藝活動古老而濃重。農歷正月初一至十五期間,跳擺手舞是必不可少的內容。其他還有唱大戲、耍獅子燈、舞龍燈、騎高腳馬等。舞龍燈最為流行,城鄉街坊村寨宗廟家族幾乎都扎“龍”。“龍”所到之處,鼓樂齊鳴,鞭炮不絕,多賜以包封。
The Tujia ethnic people celebrate by dancing together waving their hands in many fascinating ways. They also watch opera plays, have lion dance, dragon dance and walk on stilts. Dragon dance is the most popular festivity.
彝 族
彝族則根據彝歷選定年節。有的與當地漢族同過春節。云南省雙柏縣小麥地沖的彝族人正月初八有“跳虎節”的特殊風俗:全村成年男子集于村后土地廟遺址,由本村“畢摩”祭土主請虎神,8位村民化裝成老虎翩翩起舞。
The Yi ethnic people celebrate their New Year in conformity with their ethnic calendar. A Yi village in Shuangbai County, Yunnan Province holds a Tiger Festival on the eighth day of the first month.
藏 族
據藏族學者說,古代西藏六月過年,“麥熟為歲首”。現在,除夕那天,人們奉行隆重而又盛大的“跳神會”。小伙子們狂舞高歌,表示除舊迎新,驅邪降福。到了新年早晨,婦女們便去背“吉祥水”。
Tibetan people hold ceremonious exorcism dance on the eve of the Spring Festival. On the first morning of the New Year, women fetch good-luck water home.
赫哲族
赫哲族的春節是一年中最快樂的節日,稱“佛額什克斯”。除夕夜家家做年飯、剪窗花、糊燈籠。大年初一,民間詩人向人們獻詩、講故事,婦女們玩“摸瞎糊”“擲骨頭”,青少年則進行滑冰雪、射草靶、叉草球等活動。
The Hezhe ethnic people in Heilongjiang Province in northern China have family reunion banquet at home on the eve of the Spring Festival. On the Spring Festival, folk poets recite their poems and tell stories.
白 族
白族同胞過年時,有一種叫“放高升”的慶祝活動。所謂“放高升”就是在大竹子的竹節里裝上火藥,點燃以后把整株大竹子崩上天空百十丈,成為名副其實的“高升”。有的地區的白族同胞從春節到元宵節,都在進行“拋繡球”活動。耍龍燈、舞獅子、打霸王鞭也是節日不可缺少的內容。
The Bai ethnic people launch “Sky Rockets” in celebration of the Spring Festival. Dragon dance, lion dance and whip dance are popular festivities with the Bai people.
哈尼族
哈尼族人春節前幾天就準備立秋千。秋千有十幾米高,節日中男女老少都蕩。
The Hani ethnic people play on the swing during the Spring Festival. Days before the big day, they install swings as tall as 10 meters. Swing games are for the young and the old, men and women.
侗 族
貴州、湖南一帶的侗族同胞,春節期間盛行一種“打侗年”(又叫蘆笙會)的群眾活動。
The Dong ethnic people meet on the day with their Sheng, a bamboo musical instrument popular with the Dong people. The singing and dancing party can go on for a long while.
滿 族
滿族人在春節期間,男孩成幫結伙地放鞭炮、乘坐各種木爬犁,少女和年輕媳婦分家合伙地玩嘎拉哈(豬或牛的膝關節骨)。從初一到初五的晚上,人們還自愿組織起來走村串戶扭秧歌拜年。
The Manchu people celebrate the Spring Festival. Boys get together on the lunar New Year to set off firecrackers and take sled rides. Girls and young women play games. People do Yangko dance for five consecutive days.
黎 族
居住在海南島上的黎族人民,每逢春節到來,家家戶戶都要歡唱“賀年歌”。初一、初二全村青壯年男子,還要舉行一次“春節圍獵”。獵物全村共享。
The Li ethnic people on the Hainan Island celebrate by singing “Happy New Year” songs of their own.
朝鮮族
朝鮮族人在除夕夜全家守歲達旦,古老的伽倻琴樂曲伴隨通宵。節日期間,男女老少縱情歌舞,舉行壓跳板、拔河等比賽。正月十五晚上,人們舉行傳統的慶祝集會,大家圍著點燃的“望月架”,和著長鼓、筒簫、嗩吶的樂曲翩翩起舞。
The Korean ethnic people stay up on the eve of the Spring Festival. During the festival, people dance and sing. They play sports games.
傈僳族
傈僳族稱年節為“盍什”。云南怒江地區的傈僳族青年男女喜歡舉行打靶比賽。姑娘們把繡好的荷包吊在竹竿上,請小伙子們射擊,誰先射落荷包,姑娘們就把美酒送到誰的嘴邊。
The young Lisu people have shooting games on the Spring Festival. Girls put embroidered pouches on the tip of a long pole and stand the pole upright. If a young man shoots down a pouch, young women will hold up a bowl of wine for him to sip.
獨龍族
獨龍族同胞惟一的節日就是春節前冬臘月的“卡雀哇”節。節日中最隆重的儀式是牛祭天。人們跳“牛鍋莊”舞,然后分吃牛肉。
In a year, the Dulong ethnic people celebrate only one festival. It is in the last month of the lunar calendar. After offering beef to gods, people dance and then share the cooked beef.