The March 3rd Festival in Guangxi: Exploring Spring Travel
The March 3rd Festival, also recognized as the Shangsi Festival, is a time-honored and exuberant celebration deeply ingrained in the profound cultural legacy of the Zhuang ethnic group in Guangxi, China. Falling on the third day of the third lunar month, this festival is not merely a jubilant occasion for family get-togethers but also a pivotal moment for the Zhuang people to preserve and transmit their distinct cultural traditions.
The Origin of the March 3rd Festival
There are many folk stories about the origins of the March 3rd Festival, but the most widely accepted one links it to Liu Sanjie, known as the “Song Fairy.”
According to legend, Liu Sanjie lived during the Tang Dynasty and was born into a fisherman’s family in Yishan, Guangxi. She loved singing folk songs from a young age, and as she grew older, she became both beautiful and incredibly talented, able to improvise songs effortlessly. A local wealthy landlord named Mo Huairen tried to force her into marriage, but Liu Sanjie refused. Enraged, Mo ordered his men to throw her into a river.
She drifted downstream to Liuzhou, where she was rescued and later lived at the foot of Yufeng Mountain. There, she married a young hunter, and together they continued sharing folk songs with the local people. When Mo Huairen learned of this, he colluded with corrupt officials and had the couple thrown into Xiaolongtan Pond beneath Yufeng Mountain.
When villagers later pulled them from the water, a sudden breeze swept through the area. People saw Liu Sanjie and the young hunter riding on the back of a fish, singing as they rose into the sky and disappeared. From then on, it was said that Liu Sanjie had become an immortal, and she was honored as the “Song Fairy.”
To commemorate her, later generations began celebrating her ascension on the third day of the third lunar month. People would sing folk songs for three days and three nights, and over time, this tradition evolved into the lively song fairs that are still held today.
Diverse Customs of Guangxi’s March 3rd Festival
The March 3rd Festival celebrations in Guangxi are shaped by a blend of regional customs and ethnic traditions. Across different areas, distinct celebratory practices have evolved around the same timeframe, exhibiting significant variations in both ritual content and participatory forms. This diversity not only enriches the cultural layers of the festival but also offers visitors multifaceted perspectives for engagement. Below, we explore several representative customs to detail the traditional activities and folk expressions commonly observed during Guangxi’s March 3rd Festival.
Zhuang Singing Festival
Historical records show that the song fair tradition dates back over a thousand years. From the Song and Yuan dynasties onward, Zhuang folk songs flourished, and singing gatherings became increasingly popular. By the Qing Dynasty, large-scale song fairs known as “song markets” had taken shape, with hundreds or even thousands of people singing together.
The Zhuang “March Third” song fairs usually last two or three days and are held in open spaces not far from the villages. Temporary singing shelters are built with bamboo and cloth to welcome singers from neighboring communities. The main participants in the singing exchanges are unmarried young men and women, though elders and children also come to watch and join the fun. Smaller song fairs may attract one or two thousand people, while larger ones can draw tens of thousands.
For young people, the March 3rd festival song fair is an important social occasion. During the event, young men and women gather at the singing grounds and use love songs to express affection. When feelings develop, they sing back and forth to share their emotions and build connections through music.
Throwing Embroidered Balls
The embroidered balls at the song march 3rd festival are handicrafts hastily made by young women before the festival. Each is exquisitely crafted, a silk-woven masterpiece: twelve petals are joined into a spherical shape, with each petal representing a month of the year and embroidered with that month’s flower. Some balls are made in square, polygonal, or other shapes. The balls are filled with beans or cotton seeds. Attached to the ball is a silk ribbon, adorned with tassels and decorative beads, symbolizing pure love.
It has a long history. But originally it was a bronze weapon—Feituo—used for throwing in the war and hunting. Later, people had changed it into an embroidered bag to throw at each other for entertainment. In the Song dynasty, it became a medium to express the love between the youth of the Zhuangs.
Now it is still popular in areas such as Baise, Liuzhou, Nanning, and Hechi, etc., in Guangxi province. At each singing party in the traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, the Third Day of the Third Moon and the Mid-Autumn Festival, etc., the youth of the Zhuangs will invite each other at the village side, the edge of the field, or on the bank of the river.
And then they divide them into the male and female sides. When the two sides decide on their places to sing in antiphonal style and throw the balls, they begin to ask each other in songs. The songs include very rich contents of ideals, feelings, and agricultural affairs, and so on. Hey, ask and answer while singing. One side rises and the other falls. When they sing to the most exciting moment, the girls begin to swing the balls in their hands and throw them to the boys whom they have set their minds on. The boys are supposed to have quick reactions and catch the balls correctly.
Otherwise, the others would laugh. The boys who have caught the balls will enjoy them for a moment and then throw the balls back to the girls. After a few times, the boys will tie their gifts, such as the silver ornaments or coins, to the balls and throw them back to the girls as gifts if the boys also set their minds on the girls. The more expensive the gift is, the deeper feeling it shows. If the girl accepts the gift, it means she agrees to the court from the boy, and then they will continue to sing in antiphonal style to show their emotions or date to a quiet place to express their heartfelt emotions.
Fire Cracker Ball
In the game of Fire Cracker Ball in Guangxi province, the cracker is made of iron rings with a diameter of five centimeters. It is covered with a piece of red cloth or wound with red silk. When the game is going, one of the iron rings is put on the cannon’s mouth. The gun with powder in it will send the cracker into the air. When the ring falls onto the ground, all the athletes can scramble for it with their efforts.
The shape of the gun is the most beautiful in Nanning and Baise, Guangxi province. It is a hexagon pillar decorated with designs and patterns on the six sides. It has three statuses: the bottom is a bigger hexagon pillar, and the corner is inlaid with the edge of the sweet-scented osmanthus. The middle part of it is rather thinner with the different sizes of personal images of various postures. The top part is a horn-shaped mouth.
According to tradition, only three crackers are done. Those who have got the first cracker will be lucky and contented, which expresses the good desires of the people for a happy life. The traditional fire cracker ball has no limitation on the figure of athletes and has no division of groups. It belongs to the single-athlete game.
The course is usually on the bank of a river or a hill, and there is no boundary. So the course is everywhere. And this requires the athletes to be more highly. The athletes should have a strong stigma, a strong will, stubborn persistence, speedy and flexible reaction, and a virtual morality, and so on. When the owner of the cracker is determined, the sounds of the suona (trumpet), loud cheers, the drums, and the firecrackers ring together immediately.
Since the 3rd National Minorities Traditional Sports Meeting, fire cracker ball has been one of the official sports. It is determined as the official competition at the Traditional Sports Meeting, Hunan province. The reformed fire cracker ball decides the competition time is 40 minutes. It has the first half and the second half. Each half is 20 minutes. There is a ten-minute rest between them.
It is not restrained with three crackers. But the result of the competition is decided by the number of crackers put into the opponents’ gaily decorated basket within the fixed time. It is competed in units of teams, each consisting of ten athletes. The course is 60 meters long and 50 meters wide. On each of the two ends, there is a gun platform range, and there is a gaily decorated basket.
After practicing for many years, the fire cracker ball is being perfected, the skills and tactics are developing constantly, and the excitement of the antagonistic competition is rising. In order to make it worth watching and fair, the cracker has been changed into a 15-centimeter-ubber-oblate ring from a 5-centimeter-iron ring, which is similar to the disc in athletics. So the traditional ethnic sport is identical to the modern competitive sports and is called “the Chinese rugby.”
Colorful Eggs Tapping
Among the many customs of Guangxi’s March 3rd Festival, the egg-bumping ritual stands out as one of the most entertaining and romantic activities. These eggs, imbued with auspicious meanings, are crafted through a process steeped in traditional charm.
The first step in making these eggs is selecting the right ones. This isn’t just about grabbing any eggs; people carefully choose those with smooth shells and no blemishes. Such eggs absorb dye more evenly during the coloring process, resulting in brighter, more vibrant hues. After selecting the eggs, the next step is preparing the dyes. Here, ordinary chemical dyes are not used; instead, nature’s bountiful gifts—natural plant dyes like madder root, yellow rice flower, maple leaves, and purple wisteria—are employed. These plants are not only eco-friendly and healthy but also impart unique colors and a subtle botanical fragrance to the eggs.
Take madder root, for instance. It yields a vibrant red hue—a color brimming with vitality and passion. After washing the madder root, place it in a pot with sufficient water and simmer slowly. Over time, the liquid transforms into a deep crimson, creating a natural red dye. Goldenrod, meanwhile, produces a brilliant golden dye reminiscent of sunlight bathing the earth, evoking warmth and hope. Maple leaves yield a deep, mysterious black dye, while purple wisteria produces a noble and elegant purple.
Once the dyes are ready, carefully place the washed eggs into the dye bath and allow them to soak thoroughly. The soaking time is crucial: too short, and the color may be insufficiently vivid; too long, and the eggs risk absorbing excessive dye, resulting in overly intense hues. This requires the maker’s experience to judge. During the soaking process, the eggs seem to come alive, gradually transforming from their original white into a kaleidoscope of colors.
Once the eggs have achieved the desired hue, they are removed from the dye and placed in a well-ventilated area to dry. At this point, each ordinary egg has undergone a magnificent transformation into a vibrantly colored Easter egg.
Young men hold colored eggs in the festival grounds, seeking to touch the eggs held by young women. If the woman is disinterested, she clutches her egg tightly to prevent contact; if she is receptive, she allows the young man to touch hers. When the eggs crack upon contact, the pair shares the colored egg, thus sowing the seeds of love. Today, the egg-touching ritual carries the auspicious meaning: “Clink, clink, clink—bringing good fortune.”
Performing Bronze Drum Shows
The bronze drum is a highly significant musical instrument among the Zhuang and other southern ethnic minorities. Naturally, it takes center stage during the March 3rd Festival Song Fair. In the traditional culture of these southern ethnic groups, the bronze drum transcends its role as mere musical instrument; it symbolizes power and status. There is even a saying: “Possess two or three drums, and one may claim kingship.” Additionally, bronze drums served as instruments for transmitting war signals, as burial objects, and for ancestral worship and exorcism rituals.
Farmers from neighboring villages often gather on hillsides outside their villages to compete in copper drum contests. If one side plays erratically or makes mistakes, the drummer is deemed defeated and disqualified from the competition. Victory goes to the side whose drumbeats remain clear and resonant, sustained for the longest duration and most melodious. A muffled sound or a cracked drum signifies defeat. Meanwhile, other young men and women watch the competition while singing mountain ballads. They use this occasion to express affection through song and make friends through music. Everyone is in high spirits, each finding their own joy!
The bronze drum evolved from the bronze cauldron, originally serving as a practical household vessel. It gained its function as a musical instrument through percussion. Due to its loud resonance and long-range sound projection, it also served as a communication tool. Consequently, ethnic groups using bronze drums attributed many mystical properties to them. In the vast villages of the Zhuang, Yao, and Miao peoples, it is customary to perform copper drum music, sing copper drum songs, and dance copper drum dances during traditional festivals, celebratory gatherings, and joyous occasions like weddings.
Special Delicacies of March 3rd Festival
Beyond its rich array of customs and activities, the March 3rd Festival in Guangxi is equally inseparable from the traditional delicacies closely tied to the occasion. Food is not only a vital component of the celebration but also embodies people’s understanding of seasonal transitions and daily life. Different regions prepare symbolic specialty dishes during this time, extending the festival experience from visual appreciation and participation to the realm of taste. The following section will focus on the common festive foods enjoyed during March 3rd festival and the culinary traditions behind them.
Five-Color Glutinous Rice
Five-colored glutinous rice is an indispensable food for the March 3rd Festival. People gather red orchids, yellow rice flowers, maple leaves, purple wisteria vines, and gardenias. They use the juices from these plants to soak glutinous rice, creating five-colored glutinous rice in red, yellow, black, purple, and white. Eating this five-colored glutinous rice symbolizes a prosperous family, robust health, good fortune, and a bountiful harvest.
Glutinous Rice Cake of Mugwort
Mugwort Rice Cake is a traditional southern Chinese snack primarily made from tender mugwort leaves and glutinous rice flour. It possesses medicinal properties that dispel cold, relieve pain, and eliminate dampness. The preparation involves boiling and pounding the mugwort leaves, kneading them with glutinous rice flour into dough, wrapping various fillings (such as red bean paste or peanuts), and then steaming the mixture. Mugwort rice cakes are not only delicious but also cherished for their distinctive aroma and nutritional value. Around Qingming, when mugwort grows most vigorously and tenderly, these cakes become a must-eat delicacy for the March 3rd Festival, as it falls close to the Qingming Festival in the lunar calendar.
Boiled Egg with Mustard Greens
Shepherd’s purse is rich in nutrients and is also known as “olive drum vegetable” in Guangxi. In the spring month of March, as all things awaken, shepherd’s purse flowers herald the season and can be seen everywhere in Guangxi. When cooked, they emit a delicate fragrance and retain a vibrant green hue. Since ancient times, they have been cherished as a delicious delicacy. A folk saying goes, “On the third day of the third month, shepherd’s purse is a miracle cure.” People boil shepherd’s purse with eggs, praying for health and freedom from misfortune.
Shepherd’s purse is rich in nutrients and is also known as “olive drum vegetable” in Guangxi. In the spring month of March, as all things awaken, shepherd’s purse flowers herald the season and can be seen everywhere in Guangxi. When cooked, they emit a delicate fragrance and retain a vibrant green hue. Since ancient times, they have been cherished as a delicious delicacy. A folk saying goes, “On the third day of the third month, shepherd’s purse is a miracle cure.” People boil shepherd’s purse with eggs, praying for health and freedom from misfortune.
From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, spring’s warming temperatures and rising yang energy make it an ideal time to nourish the liver. Both eggs and shepherd’s purse are excellent for liver health. The lecithin and protein in eggs help repair damaged liver cells and enhance the liver’s detoxification capabilities. Shepherd’s purse is rich in vitamin C and minerals like calcium and iron, effectively promoting liver metabolism and strengthening liver function.
Beyond liver nourishment, mustard greens and eggs also moisturize the lungs, strengthen the spleen, and harmonize the stomach. Mustard greens possess a pungent, warm nature that enters the lung meridian, aiding in moistening the lungs, relieving coughs, dissolving phlegm, and calming wheezing. Eggs, with their sweet, neutral nature entering the spleen and stomach meridians, fortify the spleen, harmonize the stomach, and stimulate appetite.
When preparing mustard greens with eggs, add seasonings like shredded ginger and salt to enhance flavor. A folk custom involves dotting cooked eggs with cinnabar, symbolizing the warding off of evil spirits and epidemics, and praying for peace and safety.
Zhuang Zongzi
Zhuang zongzi, also known as “zongba,” are a staple food for the Zhuang people during festivals and daily meals. They are typically made from glutinous rice and come in various shapes, including square, triangular, and horse-leg-shaped zongzi. The fillings for Zhuang zongzi are rich and diverse, commonly including mung beans, chestnuts, pork, and shredded ham. During preparation, wood ash is often added for marinating to enhance the flavor and texture of the zongzi.
Zhuang zongzi are significantly larger than the typical zongzi we commonly eat, often requiring several people to finish one. The Zhuang people refer to zongzi as “zongba,” and the varieties of zongba they create are remarkably diverse. In Ningming County, Guangxi, during the The March 3rd Festival, the Zhuang people often prepare an astonishingly large zongba. This zongba is “wrapped in banana leaves, containing a deboned, salted pork leg, and is as large as an eight-person table.” This enormous zongba is used for ancestral worship on New Year’s Eve. After the ceremony, clan members share the giant zongba together, symbolizing unity, harmony, and prosperity.
Summary
The March 3rd Festival in Guangxi is not merely an ethnic celebration; it serves as a concentrated window into local culture, folk customs, and seasonal lifestyles. Whether through the heartfelt exchanges of duet singing or the ceremonial and playful traditional activities, this festival offers a vital entry point for understanding Guangxi’s social fabric and emotional expressions. The distinctive cuisine accompanying the festival further enriches the experience, allowing visitors to feel the connection between local life and the rhythms of nature through participation and tasting.
Thus, March 3rd Festival serves both as a spectator event and an immersive travel experience. Through the convergence of festival activities, culinary traditions, and rural settings, you may gain authentic insights into regional culture. For a more structured experience regarding itinerary planning, festival participation, or local resource coordination, we recommend consulting professional travel agencies in advance. Tattle can assist in crafting a Guangxi cultural journey tailored to the March 3rd Festival atmosphere based on your travel dates and interests.
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