Aug 1 2010
Worship Dance Flag
Colorful Chinese Miao holidays: relaxation and excitement
Who are the Miao?
Inhabiting the mountainous south and southwestern China, the Miao like to enjoy themselves during their happy holidays. They sing, dance, and prepare big meals to feast on with friends and neighbors. For young people, holidays are a good occasion to look for their significant other. Girls are especially beautiful on such occasions, with their huge sets of silver jewelry and embroidered garments.
The Miao New Year
Because they follow the lunar calendar, the Miao New Year can come in September, October, or November. Before the New Year, people give their house a general cleaning, and prepare some special food like rice wine, bean curd, and sticky rice paste. Women at this time will prepare new clothes for their family.
All people stay up until midnight, and then they bring dragons to their home with firecrackers lighted. They will have a ceremony held after daybreak to worship their forebears. The nose of a cow is put on some wine to prove that people have respect for this hardworking animal. After having breakfast, people go to visit their neighbors to send New Year's wishes.
On the first two days of the New Year, the Miao don't do any cleaning work at home, and they are forbidden to chop wood on the mountains. Women won't cook, but men do.
Girls dress up with beautiful silver ornaments and embroidered garments to go to meet the boys. Some young males walk farther to other villages to attend various kinds of social activities.
The Miao New Year lasts nine days. Lots of people get married at this time.
Huashan Festival
There are various Huashan, or “Flower Mountain,” festivals held in different Miao areas. Some are in January, while others are in May or August on the lunar calendar.
On that day, people will adorn a pole with colorful flags and place it at the center of a playground. A small red bag with money inside is placed at the top of the pole. The pole climbing starts when a man announces the beginning of the festival. The man who first reach the tip of the pole and catch the small bag, while playing his Lusheng instrument, will gain the reward. It's not easy to climb a pole and at the same time to play an instrument! The pole is smooth, tall, and slender because it's made of peeled pine wood. The champion will be able to get the respect of other people, especially the single women.
The exciting bullfights and horse races are also held during this festival. Women like to show each other their great sewing skills and the men are busy displaying their physical strength.
By singing love songs, youngsters will use this time to look for lovers. If they find someone who grab their hearts, they will give some private things to each other, such as a waistband or silver hair pin. Older people go to see friends, and may talk about many things like fishing and farming. The festival is over in the late evening.
Sister Festival: Miao Valentine’s Day
The Miao Sister Festival is also called Miao Valentine’s Day, as it’s a holiday for single women to invite young men from other villages to meet. The festival happens in mid-March on the lunar calendar.
On March 13th, Miao girls go to the mountains to pick special leaves and flowers used as food dyes. They then cook colorful, sweet, and delicious glutinous rice. The rice has five different colors. Green represents their lovely hometown, yellow implies a golden harvest, blue indicates rich, white stands for their true love, and red wishes their village will have a bright future.
The next day they go fishing to catch some fish and freshwater shrimp. After get some duck and duck eggs, they will cook a big meal in the afternoon. The duck is a must, as a swimming duck indicates the girls have the right to get together with the men from the other side of the river.
When the men finally arrive in the evening, they will have dinner together, and go out to chat and sing love songs. The girls will be sure to wear their most beautiful silver jewelry like silver bracelets, as this is a symbol of beauty and status in Miao culture.
This Miao festival lasts four days, until March 17th. During this time, various activities and games like song competition and bullfights are held.
When the fellows leave, the girls will give them some glutinous rice, duck eggs, and meat contained in the bamboo baskets as presents. Some specific things are placed in the basket to show their feelings of the men. Cotton means they will miss the men who go back home. A bunch of pine leaves means they want some needles and thread. Pepper or garlic tells their relationship is over.
The men will bring some silk in these baskets for the girls when they come again next year.
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival falls on May 5 of the lunar calendar, and thousands of people gather together to watch the exciting boat races. The rival teams row their boats in the shape of dragons on a lake or river, while drums are beaten loudly and firecrackers are set off from the banks.
April 8 Festival
The April 8th festival is held to remember the Miao’s hero Yanu, who died on this day while fighting against an invading tribe. Some tradtional activities will be held such as playing Lusheng music, singing, dancing, and performing the lion dance.
Worship Dance with glory flags
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Christian Worship Dance Flag w Pole – Rainbow – large $27.00 |
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Christian Worship Dance Flag – rainbow sheer – child $11.00 |
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Worship Dance Flag – Angel’s Wing – Purple Poly $17.00 |
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Christian Worship Dance Flag w Pole – Lame -Large $17.00 |
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Christian Worship / Warfare Dance Flag w Pole – River – child size $15.00 |
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Christian Worship / Warfare Dance Flag w Pole – River $25.00 |
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COVENANT RAINBOW NAMES OF GOD FLAG PRAISE WORSHIP DANCE $55.00 |
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Worship Dance Flag w Pole /Angel’s Wing -Magenta/Silver $25.00 |
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Christian Worship Dance Flag w Pole – Angel’s Wing – Lame – Purple – Reg Size $17.00 |
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Christian Worship Dance Flag w Pole – Angel’s Wing – Lame – Yellow – Reg. size $18.00 |
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Wand Rod for Dance Streamer – Worship or Praise Dance, Twirling, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Color Guard & Band $15.99 Ideal for praise and worship dance, baton twirlers, color guard, marching band, rhythmic gymnastics, and other performing arts… |
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Praise and Worship with Flags: Waging Spiritual Warfare in the Church and Home $7.87 Praise and Worship with Flags uncovers the significance of worship flags under the power of the Holy Spirit. The book points the reader to the flags’ biblical truths, which have been understated, and takes the reader on a journey to discover these truths with Scripture, knowledge, and testimonies of healing and victory. Praise and Worship with Flags teaches the reader why and how to use the flags … |
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Heavenly Impact – Symbolic Praise, Worship and Intercession $12.99 Heavenly Impact- Symbolic Praise, Worship & Intercession. On Earth As It Is In Heaven. This book is a must read for those seeking a Biblical foundation for the use of symbolic tools of praise, worship and intercession. This information presents clear guidelines concerning their proper place and use. Explore The Possibilities! Heavenly Impact guides you through history and explains the relevance of… |
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The Dancing Warrior Bride!: Releasing A Generation Of Prophetic Worship Warriors Of All Ages through the Arts! $12.63 The Dancing Warrior Bride! is a book on spiritual alignment for those who desire to minister in the arts. It is not for the faint or weakhearted, but for those who dare to be sharpened and challenged by the Word of God so one can operate in a “spirit of excellence” that takes you “beyond the dance”. Special training emphasis on how to minister in the anointing by applying spiritual disciplines, wa… |