Tujia people’s customs of Chinese New Year in Zhangjiajie
In December 24, it is a tujia small new year, which is the festival of sacrifice kitchen, it is said that next year they will have delicious food every day.
In lunar December 25th or 26th, which are cleaning days, every family will clean house completely, they thought it is significance for sweeping this year's bad luck and bad things out of the door then greeting a thriving good next year.
In December 27th, it is a good day for a party. This day will take the rest things of home to sell in street, to exchange some money to buy something to use in the New Year's. Parents will take their children to buy a new suit of clothes in the street and let they also feel the Chinese New Year celebrations.
In December 28, it is the day to make BaBa(a kind of local cake). They invited several neighbors on this day to make BaBa. In tujia customs, BaBa generally is not alone. Several families are together. It is very lively, high efficiency work. BaBa is mainly used for treating guests or the New Year gift, etc.
In December 29, tujia people mainly stay at home washing pigs’ head for bacon and killing chicken, ducks and sheep, and so on. In this day, the habits of tujia people are prepared all of food. It is generally busy to the middle night. Only in the next morning they will get up to eat.
In New Year's day, tujia people had a habit to compete for who is getting up early. The way to measure is that whose firecracker is early. In this day, children are not allowed to cry and speak unlucky words.
In this day’s afternoon, they have to visit dead elders early. It is a respect for the dead .They visit them to send some sacrifices. Let them feel they are not lonely and express their deep miss for the dead.
In this day, tujia people have the customs to get up early. In this day, they can't sweep the house and pour water out of the door. It is said that sweeping the house will sweep away lucky things and pouring water out can pour good things out.
Tujia people’s new year will last fifteen days.
