"Passing the Three Dynasties": The Birth Ceremony of the Dong Nationality

. Editor: Yang Xi).

Different from the "lifelong event" of the Han people, the "Three Dynasties Wine" celebrating the birth of the first child is the biggest celebration in the Dong people's lives. The so-called "Sanchao Liquor" refers to the wine served on a single day between the third and tenth days after the child was born. Regardless of whether the baby is a male or a female, the Dong people will entertain guests and celebrate the family. Therefore,"Three Dynasties Wine" is also called "Passing Three Dynasties".

On the day of "Three Dynasties Wine", guests will come to congratulate them one after another from 9 and 10 a.m., usually relatives of the woman. Regardless of the distance, each family will send at least one representative. Except for the grandfather, who will arrive after sunset, all other guests must be here before noon.

Guests must bring gifts when eating the "Three Dynasties Wine", and the gift from their grandmother is the most generous. Customarily, they include pork, glutinous rice, eggs, Dong cloth, Dong cotton, sour grass carp, silver collar, silver lock, silver bracelet, two beds of new quilt, a pair of wooden boxes or dressing tables, etc.

In addition, my grandmother had to pay for half of the meat and staple grains for the "Three Dynasties Wine" operation. Therefore, her family's gifts often exceed dozens of loads, accompanied by the sound of firecrackers, lined up all the way, making the scene quite spectacular.

"Three Dynasties Wine" usually starts at noon. Guests have to taste sweet wine and eggs first, then drink Camellia oleifera, and finally have lunch. The luncheon of "Three Dynasties Liquor" is relatively rich, while the scale of the dinner is relatively small. The Dong people have a strong family concept and often have a large group of relatives. When drinking in the "Three Dynasties", because there are too many guests, it is common to have buckets served in pots and open "running water mats". Moreover, the Dong people are very hospitable. Even if strangers come to the door on the day of the "Three Dynasties Wine", they still welcome them with a smile and never refuse.

According to Dong custom, clothes and hats cannot be prepared for babies before they are born; after they are born, they can only be wrapped in soft old dresses. Only after setting out the "Three Dynasties Wine" can you put on newly made children's clothes. Therefore, during the "Three Dynasties" period, the woman's relatives, especially aunts and aunts, are often extremely busy. During the banquet, in addition to making straps, clothes, skirts and other clothes for the baby, they also need to keep carrying the baby, carefully examine it, and say some blessings.

Halfway through the "Three Dynasties Wine", the process of singing the "name song" will be carried out. Generally, the man's family first takes the initiative to invite the woman's family to name the baby by singing. After many rounds of singing and discussion, the grandmother finally decided and announced the baby's name. Except for the fixed tune, everything else is improvised.

After the dinner, all guests will play and sing pipa songs for the baby to show their blessings.

After the "Three Dynasties Wine" was dispersed, all female guests needed to bring one or three pieces of fat meat weighing about four taels and strung together with bamboo chips when they went home, symbolizing the richness of the "Three Dynasties Wine". After the meat skewers are taken home, they are generally used to make tea camellia and invited to taste them to convey the good news and share happiness. They are commonly known as the "meat skewers gift".

The day after "Three Dynasties Wine", the baby's mother will also prepare a dinner party for close friends to exchange parenting experiences.