Miao Nationality’s Special Custom-Welcome Dragon
 2016-12-20 16:49:27   Zhangjiajie Tourism Information Website  

Welcome the dragon is a holy worship to Miao people. In order to wish for their families’ prosperity, Miao people usually make a vow to the dragon and invite two senior masters to host the religious rites. They need to ask the hostess’s brother of that family to welcome the dragon for them. Owners have to welcome the hostess’s brother in the entrance to their village and send two bowls of liquor and red paper containing money as a gift.

This activity usually takes two days. The first day, they invite senior masters to give a congratulatory speech, with drums banging and surnays blowing. At noon, senior masters lead hostess’s brother and the hostess to welcome the dragon. The hostess needs to wear her festival costume. Besides, fellow women should also wear embroidered dresses and wear silver jewelries. When the dragon is taken back, all men in the family should have paper money and burning incense in their hands. Another senior master is responsible for guiding all these men to the entrance of the village to welcome the dragon. Fireworks are set off when the dragon is being taken to their house. All guests can disperse after that.

The second day, they are required to dig a hole in the central room and put a bowl of water in it and then cover the bowl with a piece of rock beam. That is called dragon’s room. Next, senior master guide all people of the family walk three times around the dragon’s room, with ringing bells and execrating. Also, fireworks are set off at that time. Put the dragon in the hole and cover the hole with soil.

Miao people value dragon’s room so that others are not allowed to beat it in order to avoid disturbing the dragon.

Translated by Becky