The Celebration of the Nianzhe Family: An Ethnography of the Spring Festival in a Naxi Mosuo Household
This ethnographic article documents the 2011 Spring Festival celebrations of the Nianzhe family, an ordinary Naxi Mosuo household in Dapo Village, Yongning Township, Ninglang County, Yunnan. Set against Yongning's rich geographic, historical, and economic background as the political and cultural center of the Mosuo people, the study follows the family's pre-holiday preparations—storing firewood, curing pork, brewing suli wine, milling flour, and cleaning the home—through New Year's Eve rituals honoring ancestors and deities, and into New Year's Day customs including firecrackers, temple worship, elder greetings, and mountain incense offerings at the "Tawa" tower. Throughout the festival, family visits and communal "Jiacuo" gatherings marking a coming-of-age ceremony reflect enduring themes of homecoming, reunion, and spiritual devotion. The authors highlight vibrant cultural exchange with other ethnic groups while noting the erosion of traditional Mosuo folk entertainments, underscoring the urgency of intangible cultural heritage preservation.
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