subject: Courting Customs Of Miao: As Unique As Their World-famed Silver Jewels [print this page] As bulldozers and cranes are quickly transforming China's rural areas into modern cities, a traditional way of living is dying out fast.
Deep in the lofty mountains of southern China, however, the primitive tribes of Miao offer one of the last bases to explore China's ancientry.
Although isolated from the outside world by lofty mountains and torrential rivers, the people makes Asia's best tribal silver jewels. And thanks to this isolation, some of the country's most ancient customs still live in their tribes.
One fine example is their courting custom practiced pretty much the same way as the Miao ancestors did nearly, 2, 000 years ago.
Interestingly, in the Miao tribes, it's the girls who go pro-active. A few days prior to the festival, single young ladies make the sister's rice to give males who make their heart palpitate on the days of the festivity.
The making of the rice is very interesting! Girls gather over a hundred sorts of flowers, leaves and grass to extract dyes. Next, they soak the rice in dyed water, drained, and steamed. The rice can taste refreshing and fragrant.
In the Miao culture, sister's rice is quite symbolic! As girls gift their man of affection the food, they often tuck smalls tokens of love inside it. A bamboo hook communicates that she wants to have a frequent contact with the man. A cotton ball is a sign that she misses him every hour of every day. A tuft of pine needles makes a statement that she is good at needlework and will make a good wife.
What every boy might want to find in the rice the most is a Chinese toon sprout. It is a symbol of the girl looking forward to a quick proposal of marriage by his prospective partner.
The festival last 3 straight days, and activities such as Lusheng dance and opera performances are also held.
