贵州的苗族姊妹节

安徽 王涛涛

2006年5月20日，贵州省台江县申报的苗族姊妹节经中华人民共和国国务院批准列入第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。

文章词数35 8难度★★★建议用时6 分钟

1People of the Miao ethnic group celebrates the Miao Sisters' Festival in Taijiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China's Guizhou Province. Recognized as a national intangible（无形的） cultural heritage, the Miao Sisters'Festival is celebrated annually around the 15th day of the third lunar month according to the lunar calendar in China.

2During the festival, young men and women of the Miao ethnic group dress up in their finest festival attire （服装）. With a long history and a tremendous following, the festival has been passed down through generations as an ethnic tradition as well as a way of finding love and socializing. Centering on young women, it features rich festivities such as singing,dancing, dressing up, having sisters' meals and exchanging tokens （信物） of love.

3Having sisters' meals is a major event of this festival. During the night of the event,young men and women communicate by singing to each other in an antiphonal （轮流吟唱的） way to express their love for each other, and men ask for sisters' meals from women. In response, women put things along with the meals, such as chopsticks, leaves and hot pepper, to show their attitudes towards men. Having a sisters' meal can also prevent being stung by insects, according to local people.

4Catching fish and shrimps in the fields is another activity of the festival. Young women from one village will meet young men from another village to catch fish and shrimps in the fields together, so as to find the people they love. Dancing to drum beats is also an important activity for the whole community to take part in the festival. Young women, well dressed up by their parents in festival clothes, gather at the playground and dance to the drum beats. This activity is an opportunity for the Miao people to display their culture of dressing, as one can see whose clothes are gorgeous and which clothes have the most beautiful silver accessories.

5The festival provides an opportunity for people in the community to visit relatives and friends, and have fun. The festival is a bridge that strengthens solidarity within the Miao ethnic group.

Reading Check

Ⅰ. Choose the best answers according to the text

Ⅱ. Fill in each blank with only one word according to the text

The Miao Sisters' Festival in Guizhou WhenAround the 15th day of the 1.________lunar month WhereIn Taijiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China's Guizhou Province WhoPeople of the Miao 2.________group WhatThe Miao Sisters' Festival: a national 3.________cultural heritage◆Having sisters' meals√Men ask for sisters' meals from women.√Women put things along with the meals to show their 4.________towards men.How◆Catching fish and shrimps in the 5.________√Young women from one village will meet with young men from another village to catch fish and shrimps 6.________, so as to find the people they love.◆7.________to drum beats√Young women, well dressed up by their parents in 8.________clothes, gather at the playground and dance to the drum beats.√It is an opportunity for the Miao people to display their 9.________of dressing, as one can see whose clothes are gorgeous and which clothes have the most beautiful silver accessories.Why The festival provides an opportunity for people in the community to visit relatives and friends, and have fun, which is a bridge that strengthens 10.________within the Miao ethnic group.

Language Study

Complete the following phrases according to the text

1. 国家非物质文化遗产 national intangible________heritage

2. 农历；阴历________calendar

3. 打扮；装饰________up

4. 传下来________down

5. 在田里in the________

6. 参加；加入take________in