E Festival of Shui Ethnic Minority

Overview of The Festival

• Chinese Name: 水族额节
• English Name: E Festival of Shui Ethnic Minority

The Shui ethnic group's "E Festival" is celebrated every year on the You-Hai Day of the first month in the Shui calendar (the ninth lunar month). It is also known as "Borrowing E." This grand festival is a time for bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, celebrating the harvest, worshiping ancestors, and gathering with friends and family.

Before the festival, every household cleans their homes, opens their ponds to catch fish, and uses fresh fish and pumpkins as the main offerings to honor their ancestors. At the same time, they prepare a lavish feast to entertain guests. The "E Festival" has become an important activity for the Shui people to inherit and promote their ethnic culture, and it is also one of the main activities for the preservation of their intangible cultural heritage.

Purpose and Significance

1. Cultural Renewal: It marks the transition from the old year to the new, symbolizing fresh beginnings.
2. Harvest Celebration: The festival is a time to celebrate the harvest, giving thanks for the abundance of crops.
3. Ancestor Worship: It is an occasion for honoring ancestors, with families preparing offerings to pay their respects.
4. Family and Community Gathering: The festival promotes the strengthening of familial and communal bonds as friends and relatives gather to celebrate together.

Customs and Activities

• Cleaning: Households conduct thorough cleaning to welcome the new year and rid themselves of the old year's misfortunes.
• Fishing: They open ponds to catch fresh fish, which are important offerings during the festivities.
• Preparation of Offerings: Fresh fish and pumpkins are often used as primary offerings to ancestors, showcasing the Shui people’s connection to their agricultural roots.
• Feasting: Families prepare sumptuous meals featuring traditional dishes to host guests and celebrate together.

Cultural Importance

The E Festival is not just a celebration; it is a vital part of the Shui people's cultural identity. It facilitates the transmission of their traditions, folklore, and values to younger generations. As an important activity in the preservation of the Shui ethnic minority’s intangible cultural heritage, the festival contributes to cultural continuity and the promotion of their unique customs and traditions in a rapidly changing world.