This Ceremony, called 'laodangque' in the Dong language, means singing and dancing in the hall.
On the lunar New Year's Day, the elders from one or more 'tuan' (tribe) carry three or more dishes of delicacies to the altar hall as an offering sacrifice to the goddess Sa Sui. After dinner, they dance hand in hand around the altar to a special Duoye rhythmical beat, singing, remembering the happiness from their youth, and enjoying themselves to their hearts' content.
Between the second and the eighth day, the elders will lead some of the young people to help offer sacrifice to the goddess Sa Sui at the altar hall. This is done to welcome the goddess Sa Sui to the drum tower ground. Then all the young people are invited to come to the grounds dance hand in hand and with music led by the musicians. The elders will sit on the benches around the fire pit to preserve the original customs.
If the village meets a natural or man-made calamity, or an evil omen appears, the elders will close the village are and hold a grand ceremony to offer a sacrifice to the goddess Sa Sui. They will pray for safety and peace. Married daughters who no longer live in the village, and men who left the village for jobs, return to the village for the ceremony.
For the first three days, the people will eat only cold food. Also, fire and smoke are not permitted until the last day. At that time, each household will send a member to collect some kindling so they can start their fires and then dance and sing praises to the goddess Sa Sui.
Dong Villages
Zhaoxing Tang'An Chengyang
Culture of Dongs
Sanyuejie Festival Marriage Customs Music New Year Traditional costumes
Drum Towers Flower Bridges Lusheng Festival
Dong Houses Carrying the Governors Parade
Drama Rice Planting Traditional Common Law Worship the Goddess Sa Sui
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