Gelao people's "Spring Water Seizing"

The Gelao people in Zunyi County and Wuchuan Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County have the custom of "seizing spring water."

On the first day of the "beginning of spring" in the spring lunar calendar, every household cleaned their houses, carried enough water, and prepared firecrackers. On the day of the beginning of spring, I did not wash clothes because I thought that washing clothes would stain the spring water. I also did not sweep the floor or carry water. The person who "grabs spring water" is an unmarried man or woman in the family. If there are several unmarried men or women in the family, the parents will appoint one who is honest, capable, resourceful, and brave; if there are no unmarried men or women in the family, borrow one from a relative or neighbor and invite it to live at home the night before.

The rooster crowed for the first time, and the "spring water" people quietly got up, picked up the tools for holding water and walked to the water's edge in the dark without making a sound or making any noise, otherwise they thought that they would disturb the "spring water". Then gently scoop water with a bowl, generally scoop twelve bowls and thirteen bowls for leap month). After scooping it out, he shouted,"I'm stealing spring water!" Then, firecrackers were lit, which made the entire stockade crackle. Whoever fired the firecrackers first meant that that family was rushing for the "water" and that family's children were diligent. People went to wells or springs to fetch water, and shouted "Spring water comes to my house, comes to my house..." on the way home. Immediately boil water when you get home and boil the "spring water". Then cook a can of tea. After the whole family gets up, each person drinks a cup of "Spring Water" fragrant tea, then drinks a cup of honey rice tea, and eats Yuanxiao to wish the whole family peace.