Colored Glutinous Rice (Huamifan) Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Minority in PIngbian County, Honghe

Chinese Name:屏边县壮族花米饭节
English Name: Colored Glutinous Rice (Huamifan) Festival of Zhuang Ethnic Minority in PIngbian County, Honghe

The Colored Glutinous Rice (Huamifan) Festival is a vibrant and culturally significant event celebrated by the Zhuang ethnic minority in Pingbian County, Honghe Prefecture. This festival takes place annually in the sixth month of the lunar calendar, with festivities most recently held in Baihe Town at the Baihe Village Committee in Tuanjie Village.

On July 17th, the Zhuang people of Sanjia Village, Baihe Township came together to celebrate this traditional festival. People from surrounding villages and various ethnic groups, dressed in their festive attire, gathered to experience the warmth and exuberance of the Zhuang community.

The Zhuang people are one of the primary ethnic minorities in Pingbian County, residing mainly in Baihe Township, Xinhua Township, and Heping Township. Over centuries, they have developed a rich and vibrant culture, with the Colored Glutinous Rice (Huamifan) Festival standing out as a unique expression of their traditions within the broader tapestry of Chinese culture.

Festival Activities

The Huamifan Festival is typically held on the first day of the sixth lunar month. Early in the morning, Zhuang men, women, and children dress in their best festive attire. The men prepare the festival feast by slaughtering chickens and ducks, while the women use natural plant dyes, such as indigo leaves, to create the colorful glutinous rice. Young girls and daughters-in-law greet guests at the village entrance with homemade rice wine, offering the fragrant drink to visitors along with graceful toasts, welcoming them warmly into the village.

At noon, the festivities become even more lively. Along the village roadside, graceful Zhuang women perform a bamboo pole dance, attracting a large and enthusiastic audience. Following the dance, in the village square, 64-year-old ritual master Lu Yongguang leads a sacrificial ceremony. He raises his wine cup and recites prayers to heaven, ancestors, and benefactors Yang Liulang and Yang Qilang, seeking favorable weather and abundant harvests for the coming year. He also offers a toast to the Party and the government, expressing gratitude for their contributions to the improved living standards of the Zhuang people, likening their lives to the colorful flower rice that grows more beautiful each year. The ceremony is followed by cultural performances, including 15 original and self-directed programs by cultural troupes from Sanjia Village and He-kou County, which showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Zhuang people.

Face-Smearing Tradition

The most lively and anticipated part of the Huamifan Festival is the face-smearing activity. In the afternoon, dozens of banquet tables are set up in the village square, where villagers and guests enjoy a feast of flower rice and rice wine. As the celebration continues, seven or eight beautiful Zhuang girls move through the crowd, singing toasting songs and offering wine. They also playfully smear the faces of guests with red paint, a tradition symbolizing blessings—the more paint on one’s face, the deeper the blessings. This joyful and playful activity fills the air with laughter and excitement as people chase and smear each other’s faces, creating a jubilant atmosphere that envelops the entire village, leaving everyone with full bellies, happy hearts, and a deep sense of community spirit.

The Colored Glutinous Rice (Huamifan) Festival in Sanjia Village is a vivid celebration of Zhuang culture, bringing together tradition, community, and joy in a truly memorable event.