Introduction to Uyghur traditional festivals
When it comes to Uyghurs, many people think of folk songs and dances. There are famous mutton kebabs in Uyghur diet. Today, the editor of World Customs Network will tell you what traditional festivals the Uyghurs have.
Meizi Festival (that is, Eid al-Fitr) in the month after the break of fast that day held, so also known as "Eid al-Fitr." Islam stipulates that adult believers should fast for one month every year. During fasting, meals are only eaten before sunrise and after sunset. Any diet is absolutely prohibited during the day. After the one-month fast expires, adult Uyghur men will go to the mosque for a ceremony. Believers gather at the worship temple for a grand service. Musicians sit high on the arch in the mosque, playing suona and beating the tambourine. People visit each other, give gifts, and hold recreational activities such as crafty sheep, horse racing, singing and dancing. Every household has abundant holiday food and visits each other to celebrate the festival. Men, women and old come out to play. This festival generally lasts for three days.
The Gurbang Festival, or Eid Adha Festival, is a transliteration of Arabic, meaning slaughter or blood sacrifice. It is held on the 70th day after Rouzi Festival and lasts for three days. The Uyghur Gurbang Festival is the same as the Han Spring Festival, with a particularly strong festive atmosphere. During the festival, people held a grand "Masilef" song and dance rally in the square. Men, women and old people danced with the accompaniment of "Dafu" drums,"Sabai" and "Karon".
Before the Gurbang Festival, people have to make various preparations, especially the livestock to be sacrificed as animals must be purchased in advance. On the morning of the festival, they take a bath and cleanse the whole body, and then dress up and go to the mosque to participate in the gathering ceremony; after that, people go directly to Mazar (cemetery) to pray for the deceased ancestors. Finally, we had to change the hada, that is, uprooting the dead wood on the grave, planting new branches, watering some water before going home.
According to tradition, the morning after the festival gathering is the best time to sacrifice animals and please Allah. Usually, after people slaughter the animals for blood sacrifice and put them into the pot, the men begin to pay homage to each other, while the women stay at home to stew meat, set out holiday food, brew tea, etc., in preparation to welcome guests.
On the first day of the festival, first of all, we pay tribute to neighbors or villagers who have had family disasters such as funerals in the near future and express condolences; secondly, we pay tribute to the elders of both husband and wife; thirdly, we pay tribute to neighbors and elders. Other festival worship activities are often held in groups of three to five, with men and women conducted separately (in Uyghur folk etiquette, men and women are generally not allowed to mix).
After the festival, there is a festival between relatives and friends of the same generation. In addition to congratulating and greeting each other, everyone also ate together, played, sang, and had fun together.
Nowruz Festival is the oldest traditional festival of the Uyghur people. It is a systematic New Year festival produced in the historical development of the Uyghur people. It is a festival to prepare for the entry into spring plowing production, greening, beautification and purifying the environment. It is an artistic festival and a sports festival.
In Xinjiang, this festival is celebrated by all ethnic minorities who believe in Islam. The word Norruz comes from ancient Iranian and means spring rain day. It is equivalent to March 22 of each year in the ancient Iranian solar calendar, which is March 22 of the Gregorian calendar. This day is equivalent to the vernal equinox of the Han people, so Nowruz Day is also called the Spring Festival.
On this day, various celebrations and the traditional "Ansilaph" will be held to wish peace and happiness, prosperous people and a bumper harvest in the new year. Folk songs sung only during the Nowruz Festival are still preserved in many places.
"Bailati" is Arabic, meaning pardon. Because on the festival day, residents burned more oil gourd, forming lights all over the village, it is also called the "Oil gourd" Festival. The festival is held about half a month before the fast, that is, from August 1 to 15, Gregorian time.
It is said that on the night of August 15th, anyone who sincerely repented and begged for mercy can be forgiven, because the celestial immortals who record the good and evil of mankind will be recorded with a new document, so this night is also called the "Document Changing Night". This opportunity has been so valued by Muslims that preparations have begun on August 1. Each family prepared candies and snacks, and invited the imam to come to his home to recite the Bailati Sutra on an optional day from the morning of August 1 to the afternoon of August 15. This is called "Nien Night" by the Hui people in Xinjiang and called it "Walking Festival" in the mainland.
On August 15, people must fast, speak carefully, and recite scriptures with heart. Men, women, old and young must take a bath and change clothes, go to the mosque to attend the ceremony, and give money to the mosque; At night is the most critical moment, called "Document Exchange Night". Therefore, Muslims do not sleep until 12 o'clock and pray for Allah's forgiveness and blessings. Children gather together and go door to the gates of nearby Islamic families. Sing the Balati song. At this time, people from the family will come out to give out money, so as to win Allah's favor and bring more blessings to themselves and their families.
Fatima's Death Day, Saginas Festival)
This festival is an Islamic religious festival and is scheduled to be held on June 15 in Hijiri. Fatima, daughter of Mohammed and wife of the fourth caliph Ali, was one of the five outstanding women in Islam. She died at the age of 27. She is dignified and virtuous, so she is deeply admired by Muslim women. June 15th is the anniversary of her death. On this day, Muslim women from all over the world gathered in mosques to listen to the imam's narration of Fadima's virtuous deeds and donated property to the mosque. Some invited the imam to come to their homes to recite scriptures and sacrifice.
The five outstanding women in Islam are role models for Muslim women to learn from. Therefore, this sacrificial activity allows Muslim women to improve their cultivation and moral character in all aspects. The other four outstanding women are: Mohammed's original wife, Hatich, his successor, Aisha, Jesus 'mother, Mary, and Asiah, who raised Musa.
Since Ali is regarded as the first generation imam by Shiite Muslims and his wife Fatima is regarded as the "Virgin Mary", Shiite Muslims in Xinjiang pay more attention to this day and hold commemorative activities.
The First Snow Festival The First Snow Festival, called "Kallek" in Uyghur, is an entertainment event held by the Uyghur people during the first snowfall every year.
After the first snow fell, several friends after discussion and jointly wrote a snow gift letter. The letter first congratulated the recipient's family on the arrival of the first snow, and then asked the recipient to hold an entertainment party in accordance with the habit of the Snow Festival, and proposed the content of the party activities, please one of them directly to the recipient's home. The messenger should quietly place the letter in a place where it is not easy for the owner to find it. Before the messenger leaves, if the host does not notice, he will hold a first snow party as required in the letter. If the messenger is caught on the spot, the first snow party will be held at the messenger's home. The party content includes poetry recitation, singing, dancing, music performance, etc.
Usually, the greeting letter contains the following words: "If you are rich, you can invite us with a sumptuous banquet; if you are not rich, you can also use an onion to express your feelings." Then ask one of them to deliver it directly to the recipient's home. The messenger should quietly place the letter in a place where it is not easy for the owner to find it. Before the messenger leaves, if the host does not notice, he will hold a snow ceremony party as required in the letter. If the messenger is caught red-handed, the party is hosted by the letter writer. This game is mostly held among young men, but the girl never gives up the opportunity to participate in this game. On the one hand, people carry out this kind of song and dance game to relieve the fatigue and boredom after a year of hard work. On the other hand, in the snowy winter, they place their hopes on the coming year, wishing everything auspicious and satisfying in the coming year.
Conclusion: The Gur Festival and the Rouzi Festival are Islamic religious festivals that only lasted for more than a thousand years in Uyghur history. The Nowruz Festival has a history of 3,000 years and is also one of the three festivals held by Xinjiang TV Station (Gurbang Festival, Rouz Festival, and Nowruz Festival). It is also the only festival in Xinjiang where various township governments, rural areas and schools hold collective activities to celebrate.
The above are the six traditional Uyghur festivals introduced to you by Xiaobian. I hope that in this article "Uyghur Traditional Festivals", you will learn something about Uyghur cultural customs.