Falling on the 29th day of the fifth lunar month, the Danu Festival for Yao people is also known as the Yao New Year or the Ancestral Mother Festival. It is not celebrated every year; sometimes there are two, three or even five years in between celebrations, though in some communities, it’s held only once every 12 or 13 years.
The story goes that two mountains, Buluosi and Miluotuo, collided and a warrior and a woman emerged. They produced three daughters: the offspring of the eldest daughter are the Han people; the offspring of the second daughter are the Zhuang people; the youngest daughter became the ancestor of the Yao people. The 29th of the fifth lunar month is Miluotuo’s birthday; Danu means ‘don’t forget.’
Before the festival, houses are cleaned, rice wine and rice cakes are prepared and pigs and lambs are slaughtered. On the day itself, the village common becomes the place for celebration; dancing, singing, martial arts performances, ball games, etc are all enjoyed. The Copper Drum Dance is especially popular and is usually performed by two men and a woman: they dance to the rhythms of the copper drums and the best drummer is crowned King of Drum-beating, to much congratulation and celebration. After this, firecrackers are lit; the person who ignites the most is hailed as a hero.
This festival is also celebrated by some Zhuang people in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
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