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| "Temaoke",
literally meaning "New Year's Day" in Jinuo ethnic language,
is the grandest festival on February 6-8 by the solar calendar. In
pronunciation, it also means "iron forging festival". Legend
has it that there lived a Jinuo woman who gave birth to a son after
her pregnancy of nine years and nine months. The newborn boy, a pair
of fire-tongs in one hand and a hammer in the other, could forge iron.
After that, the Jinuos started to use iron implements, step up production
and improve their living standard. To commemorate that boy, to ring
out the old year while ushering in the new, and to expect a bumper
harvest, the festival has been kept until nowadays. Before the festival,
a ceremony of piecing cattle to death is held, after which every household
prepares dinner and invite guests. When the festival approaches, the
chieftain beats the large drum to assemble the villagers, who then
come out to dance, hand in hand, accompanied on the large drum, an
instrument worshipped by all the Jinuos. According to the Genesis
of the ethnic group, at the beginning there was a flood inundating
all on earth except brother and a sister, who escaped into a large
drum and drifted on the flood. After the flood receded, the brother
and the sister walked out of the drum and had Jinuo children after
marriage. Now, during the festival, a variety of sports activities
are also held. It is also an opportunity for lads and maids to find
their suitors. |
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