Tujia Drive Year

(Image source: www.travelzjj.com)

Event time: December28thinthe Chinese lunar calendar

Event introduction: Drive Year is a unique custom is Zhangjiajie, and a symbol of industrious, brave, kind-hearted, simple characteristics of Tujia people. In order to let domestic and foreign tourists experience the local customs, the city arrangesTujia folk performances such as flower lanterns, dragon lanterns, Yang Drama, and folk songs. In addition, tourists also have the chance to taste sticky rice cake, tofu, and pork rice, experiencing the "Drive Year".

Tujia’s new year is different from Han people. The "Drive Year", called "Qi Lao Ga Ka" in Tujia language, is the biggest Tujia folk festival in Xiangxi. Drive Year time: December29thin the Chinese lunar calendar when it’s a big month; December28th in the Chinese lunar calendar when it’s a small month. Because it’s always a day ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, it is called the Drive Year.

Tujia Drive Year is divided into three stages specifically: the first stage is the preparation stage, from December23rdinthe Chinese lunar calendar to the Drive Year day; the second stage is the worship stage, namely around 3 pm on the Drive Year day, and the worship order is ancestors, Penggongjuezu, God of Hearth, God of Land, God of Four Officials, and God of Gate; the third stage is the official "Drive Year", when families have reunion meals, meanwhile drinking and singing all the time.

After the meal, the whole family will sit around the heated brick bed, and then set off firecrackers, fetch water, grind and pestle at midnight. Tujia Drive Yearis widespread in northwestern Hunan Province to this day, including Longshan, Yongshun and Baojing County. Tujia "Drive Year" began in the mid period of Ming Dynasty. In the legend, soldiers from east Hunan Province were recruited to fight against Japanese pirates in the southeast coastal area. Because the New Year was approaching, but in order to fight Japanese pirates, the soldiers decided to celebrate the New Year one day in advance. Finally, after they achieved the victory, this became a custom.

Drive Year custom was very popular in the late Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the Republic of China. It was recorded in "Yongshun House History" and "Yongshun County History" during the Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty. Today, Tujia ethnic communities in east Hunan Province still have the tradition of Drive Year.