Suningxi Festival of Shui Ethnic Minority

Chinese Name: 水族苏宁喜节
English Name: Suningxi Festival of Shui Ethnic Minority

Suningxi Festival, which is specific to Shui Ethnic Minority, is held in lunar December in Sandu Shuizu Autonomous County, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province( 贵州省黔南布依族苗族自治州三都水族自治县). According to the legend, the Heavenly Queen Mother (王母娘娘) would send babies to the world on Suningxi Festival, so it is also known as Niangniang Festival(娘娘节).

During the festival, the Shui show great respect for women, which has been embodied in the action that all ceremonies are held by women. In order to celebrate the festival, each family kills pigs and gets some fish from the rice paddy field so that they can prepare a sumptuous meal to treat their guests. Besides, all children of the whole village, carrying special bamboo baskets, knock on door from house to house in order to get some glutinous rice, eggs as well as sliced meat that symbolize the longevity and happiness. The host and hostess of every family are happy to entertain children warmly in order to make them pleasantly.