The prelude of the Bai people's Spring Festival usually begins in the twelfth lunar month. Pre-holiday preparations mainly include: killing Nian pig, curing bacon, ham and sausage; Self-made Bai special foods, such as pig liver, milk fan, milk cake, bait block, etc. On the 28th and 9th of the twelfth lunar month, the whole family cleans up together: washing bedding, sweeping the yard, cleaning windows, cleaning up old couplets and New Year pictures.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, the Bai male host began to compose his own Spring Festival couplets. They all like to write Chinese characters. Some couplets are not only neat in antithesis and beautiful in artistic conception, but also clean, interesting and catchy to read. In addition, we should stick red paper on the flowerpots in the yard, tie red knots on the branches and burn a pair of red incense at the gate, which indicates prosperity and good luck in the coming year. All day, the hostess of the Bai nationality is preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. When she is ready, she should worship the "master" and ancestors first. Bai villages have their own patron-"the Lord", which is the unique religious belief of the Bai people. After the sacrifice, the children will set off firecrackers, and then the whole family will sit around the marble dining table, have dinner together and watch CCTV Spring Festival Gala. In addition to drinks and other dishes, there must be Bai dishes such as "stewed chicken with bacon", "hot and sour fish" and "milk fan dipped in sugar" on the table, which means that the golden rooster is good news, and they are rich and sweet. In the evening, Bai women must prepare dishes for the next day, because according to Bai customs, they don't use kitchen knives or sweep the floor on New Year's Day.
In the early morning of New Year's Day, Baimen set off a string of firecrackers in front of his house and ran to the village head to grab a load of well water to go home, symbolizing the new scene of the New Year, getting up early and getting rich early. On this day, Bai people must eat dumplings for breakfast, which shows that the whole family is round and harmonious. According to the Bai custom, the whole family, especially women, do not visit other people's homes on the first day, but can go out to participate in the Spring Festival celebrations. Jiaozi had just finished eating early when firecrackers exploded, and men, women and children dressed in Bai festive costumes poured out of their homes and ran to the village to sing and dance under the big green trees. Cheerful white suona sound one after another, the young man beat the octagonal drum, the girl beat the overlord whip, and everyone sang "White Tone" together. At this moment, Dali bazi, villages, streets and alleys are filled with the joy and celebration of the New Year.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Bai men and women began to visit relatives and friends and pay New Year greetings to each other. When you walk into a Bai family, the hospitable host will definitely give you a bowl of sweet rice tea or a bowl of delicious ham bait. This day is even more exciting for children, because they get the long-awaited lucky money from their elders, relatives and friends. Bai newlyweds who get married in the twelfth lunar month will also visit relatives of both men and women on this day and give gifts such as cigarettes, wine, sugar and tea. Relatives will also give gifts or red envelopes to the bride in return.
During the Spring Festival, the celebrations of the Bai people are colorful. They can go to see "Tokyo Concert", "Butterfly Dream", dragon and lion dances and dragon boat races. You can also visit the flower market. Dali is famous for its camellia, azaleas and orchids. In addition, you can also participate in the "Gegen Club" on the fifth day of the first month, the "Songhua Club" on the ninth day and the "Lantern Festival" on the fifteenth day. Bai people have an important custom, that is, the "mountain meeting" from the first day of the first month to the fifteenth day of the first month, and they go to Jizu Mountain, a Buddhist holy place, to offer incense, fruits and contributions. Newly-married men and women must go up the mountain and make a wish to the Buddha, praying for a happy life and sweet love.
Although the Spring Festival will last until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month, most hardworking Bai people have been busy with farm work and business since the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. They believe that the new year will harvest new hopes and create new scenes.