No matter how the New Year is spent, offering sacrifices and praying for blessings is an indispensable activity. Since ancient times, Xiasi has regarded praying for blessings as the most solemn festival of the year, and its custom has been preserved to this day. In the past, I only heard about the magnificence of this kind of festival, but this year I went to Xiasi for the Spring Festival to experience it for myself and truly witnessed the grandeur of the scene.
The first thing you see when you arrive at the ancient town is the beautiful scenery of the ancient town, extending from the bank to the river, and the scene is full of Xiasi New Year, which is very lively. Xiasi’s New Year’s blessing is called "Xi Le Wish". It is said that the allusion of this festival originated in ancient times. The Mulao people in Xiasi Town had to celebrate the most solemn festival "Yifan Festival". In the Mulao language, it is called "Happy Wish". In addition, modern people pay attention to auspiciousness, so they directly took this easy-to-understand name. In the previous "Yifan Festival", the Mulao people had to worship, entertain and pray to the gods to bless the harvest of the grain and the prosperity of the six animals, but now Xiasi's "happy wish" has not slackened in the slightest. On the old bridge, the mighty dragon dance The lion dance team was going to the archway of the ancient town. First, they "invited the saint" in the archway, saying that the "sage" should be invited first.
Then we followed the Mulao Zhai Lao to Lusheng Square. The Mulao people on the scene were all dressed in traditional costumes, carrying pigs and sheep to worship their ancestors, which was very solemn and sacred. It is recommended that you better walk in front so that you can occupy a good position and enjoy the folk performances behind. After the blessing ceremony, many wonderful folk performances began, including Bacao Dance and Lushenghui, all of which were beautiful. Being able to participate in the dance together is simply a joy in body and mind.
On the street outside, there is an activity for my aunt to go back to her mother's house. I don't know why the family likes to watch this type of program so much, and they laugh from ear to ear the whole time.
The atmosphere was very lively. You can also experience making glutinous rice cakes by yourself. It is a real glutinous rice cake, which tastes sticky but not greasy. You can chew it slowly with tenacity and feel the original fragrance of the food in your mouth. My mother read it and said that I can go home and buy a small jar of pounding garlic to make glutinous rice cakes.
Among all the activities, the elderly in the family like the last blessing session the most. They follow the priests to the Yuwang Palace to pray for blessings. You can buy various blessing cards in front of the Yuwang Palace. Each of our family bought one. I still have a sense of ceremony. Close your eyes and make a wish. The moment I hung up the wishing card, I felt as if this year would be a complete one. I always feel that I have to keep a memory to pay off my vows in the coming year in order to start a new year!
Xiasi's "Happy Wish" is said to be held every year. I hope that when the old wish has been fulfilled, I can buy a new prayer card and write a new wish. Usually, Xiasiyu Palace is also quite lively, and there will be opera performances. If you don’t want to be too crowded, it’s also a good choice to travel at different peaks.