A celebration ceremony for the Tiaohua Festival of the Miao ethnic group was held on March 24 in Luoli village, Xiaobi Bouyei and Miao township, located in the Guizhou Shuanglong Airport Economic Zone.
A celebration ceremony for the Tiaohua Festival of the Miao ethnic group is held in the Shuanglong zone. [Photo/WeChat account of Guizhou Shuanglong Airport Economic Zone]
Nearly 10,000 people, predominantly Miao ethnic group members from neighboring counties, dressed in traditional ethnic attire and converged to celebrate the festival.
The Tiaohua Festival, also known as the Miao February event, is a significant occasion for the Miao people to honor their ancestors, trace their history, and engage in important social interactions. It is where young men and women showcase traditional attire, compete in lusheng (a reed-pipe wind instrument) skills, and express their affection for other people. It is often referred to as the Miao people's "Valentine's Day".
The event attracts nearly 10,000 participants. [Photo/WeChat account of Guizhou Shuanglong Airport Economic Zone]
According to tradition, the festival spans three days, including the preliminary, main, and closing ceremonies. The preliminary ceremony involves rituals such as selecting flagpoles, protecting flagpoles, and raising banners for worship.
The main event features grand flag-raising ceremonies, singing, dancing, bonfire gatherings, antiphonal singing of folk songs, and other traditional activities. The closing ceremony involves taking down the flagpoles, which symbolizes the conclusion of the festival and the commencement of a new year of work.