Tibetan Overview
China's Tibetans have a total population of 6,282,187 (2010), mainly distributed in China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan and other provinces and regions. Tibetan is the Chinese term for the Tibetans, who call themselves "bo [bod]". The Tibetan language for people living in different areas and have different titles: living in the Tibet ali area people call themselves "兑巴", after the Tibet area people call themselves "藏巴", before the Tibet area people call themselves "weiba "; people living in the eastern part of Tibet and western Sichuan call themselves "Kangba"; people living in the northern part of Tibet and northwestern Sichuan, southern Gansu and Qinghai call themselves "Andova". Collectively, they are called "Boba".
Tibetan festivals
1, the Tibetan calendar year (Tibetan calendar, starting on the first day of the first month)
In more than nine hundred and fifty years ago, that is, the dingmao year of the Chinese lunar calendar (1027 AD), the Tibetan people began the Tibetan calendar year. The Tibetan New Year is a festive custom, equivalent to the Chinese New Year.
It begins on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar every year and lasts from three to five days. At the beginning of December on the Tibetan calendar, people begin to prepare for the New Year, and families soak barley seeds in water basins to cultivate seedlings. In the Tibetan calendar year, its dietary customs and habits, although eating different things, but over the habits with the Han Chinese is consistent, such as the New Year's Eve or 29, eat New Year's Eve dinner, out of the night, people get together again, each family to eat dough Tuba (Gutu). The first day of the year to wish a new year of good luck, respectively, and then worship. On the second day of the year to return gifts to each other, and wear new clothes.
Tibetan festivals
Tibetan New Year, in the square or on the open grass, everyone in a circle to dance pots and pans, string dance, in the six-stringed zither, cymbals, gongs and other musical instruments accompanied by hand in hand, person to person, step on the ground for the festival, singing and, the children set off firecrackers, the whole region immersed in the joyful, celebratory and peaceful atmosphere of the festival. In the towns and villages, Tibetan opera is sung, and potshoos and string dances are performed. In pastoral areas, herdsmen light bonfires and sing and dance all night long. Folk also engage in jousting, throwing, tug-of-war, horse racing, archery and other activities.
2, on the ninth festival (the ninth day of the first month of the lunar calendar)
Popular in the area of Baoxing County. It is held on the ninth day of the first month of the lunar calendar every year. On this day, people gather to the bottom of the mountain, organized lanterns and performances such as lion dance, dancing and singing. At night, held a unique male and female wrestling, the result is often male defeat female victory, causing laughter, will be the climax of the holiday activities.
3, Xie Shui Festival (the sixth day of the third month of the lunar calendar)
Popular in the Coronation County area. It is held on the sixth day of the third month of the lunar calendar every year. Its main content is to seek rain and pray for children. On this day, the lama with tsampa made of frogs, snakes and toads, each family with one or two people. Came to the side of the ditch, the lama while chanting while the tsampa made animals into the water. When they returned, everyone was playing with rain gear and yelling, indicating that the rain had fallen. Next, people go to honor a round pagoda. Inside the pagoda is a knife and a small gong pot, representing fertility. Women who have been married for a long time without children make a wish to the pagoda god for a child. If a woman has a child after honoring the pagoda, she goes to the pagoda on that day to return the wish.
4, turn the mountain will (lunar calendar April 8)
Tibetan traditional festival, also known as the festival of Mu Buddha, to the mountain god. Popular in Ganzi, Aba Tibetan areas. Every year on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar birth, there are nine dragons leaf water for its bath, so it is also known as Mu Buddha Festival. Every year on this day, Ganzi Tibetan area near and far the masses dressed in national costume, gathered to run on the mountain and folding more river. People first go to the temple to burn incense and pray, burn paper money. Then they turn to the mountain and offer sacrifices to the gods, praying for the blessing of the gods. After turning to the mountain, they set up tents for picnic and perform Tibetan opera. Singing folk songs, dancing potshuang dance, string dance, riders also horseback archery competition. During this period, people also hold material exchange activities and other cultural and sports activities.
5, Baima song will be (before and after the Qingming Festival)
Festival customs for the Baima Tibetans. Popular in Pingwu County, held every year before and after the Qingming Festival. Baima Tibetans can sing and dance, traditional cultural activities held during the Chinese New Year in the Han area. With the development of the economy and the introduction of new culture, they developed the desire to create their own festival. The relevant departments of the situation, in 1982 held the first cottage song will be held. Since then, it is customary to organize once a year.