Where spring comes early, spring comes alive in the drum.
In the history of Chinese civilization, drum is an important ritual instrument for offering sacrifices and welcoming the New Year. The drum sound is regarded as the sound from the earth, which can germinate plants and animals. During the Spring Festival, people beat drums, symbolizing the hope for a bumper harvest and a beautiful new year.
Drums are often accompanied by dancing. People in the north and south of the great river dance and sway with the sound of drums, celebrating the New Year with their own traditional customs, and expressing the heartfelt wishes of Chinese children for good luck, peace and smoothness in life.
On the eve of the Spring Festival in 2014, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader came to the Inner Mongolia prairie wrapped in silver, participated in Nadam in winter with herdsmen dressed in festive costumes, and enjoyed the Mongolian dance with dynamic, lively rhythm and rich grassland customs in the ice and snow.
The flourishing dance, bright national costume and melodious long tune are not only the unique way for Mongolian people to welcome the Spring Festival, but also an important carrier to express their vigorous and uplifting spirits and passionate feelings. This is in line with the general secretary’s exhortation to "persevere" and "work hard" at the ceremony of "Blessing Five Animals".
Beat drums to say goodbye to the new year and dance to welcome the new year. The inspiring culture of China’s ethnic minorities not only inspires people, but also shows the indomitable and pioneering spirit of our ethnic compatriots.
In the Wa village in Yunnan Province, which has a history of more than 500 years, the general secretary watched the villagers dance happily and sounded three Wa wooden drums according to local customs, wishing the coming year a good weather, peace and prosperity. In Huawu Village, Miao Township, Guizhou Province, which is known as the "hometown of folk culture and art in China", the general secretary came to the villagers and applauded the Miao villagers who advocated sheng and sang and danced … …
Drumming and dancing again and again, not only entrusted the general secretary with his deep blessing to the compatriots of ethnic minorities, but also expressed the feelings of the sons and daughters of all ethnic groups of the Chinese nation to share weal and woe.
The picture shows the lion dance performance at the ancestral temple in Foshan City, Guangdong Province.
The dragon is the totem of the Chinese nation, and the lion is the statue of all animals. Both of them are symbols of vigor, fearlessness and fearlessness in Chinese culture.
In China, the embryonic form of dragon dance can be traced back to the sacrificial ceremony in ancient times. According to legend, the custom of lion dance was formed in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it has a history of 1,500 years.
In the Spring Festival and other festivals, the lively dragon and lion dance performances not only create a festive and warm festive atmosphere, but also place people’s good hopes for a safe and smooth life and good luck.
Before the Spring Festival, he went to the local area to visit and express condolences to the grassroots. The General Secretary of the Supreme Leader has watched the dragon and lion dance performances with the masses many times and felt the rich and authentic flavor of the year together.
On February 3, 2016, on the eve of the Spring Festival of the Year of the Monkey, the General Secretary visited Jiangxi. When they arrived at Guangming Community, Pengjiaqiao Street, donghu district, Nanchang City, the lion dance team and lantern festival team formed by residents were rehearsing. The general secretary was deeply gratified by the happy and perfect scene. He said happily, "I hope our people will have a happy, peaceful and beautiful Spring Festival."
The Year of the Loong’s dragon dance is "the meaning in the title", which is expected. On February 1, 2024, before the Spring Festival in the Year of the Loong, the General Secretary came to Tianjin, the hometown of Quyi. In the ancient cultural street, which embodies the folk customs and history of Tianjin, the general secretary, together with citizens and tourists, immersed himself in the lively and festive atmosphere of the old street, and watched the dragon and lion dance performances with drum music, and "felt the strong flavor of the year" … …
On January 19th, 2020, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader sounded three Wa wooden drums on the Wa Village Square in three village Zhongzhai Simola, Qingshui Township, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, wishing the coming year good weather, prosperity and national security.
At the end of 2024, "Spring Festival — — Social Practice of Celebrating the Traditional New Year in Chinese "is listed in UNESCO’s representative list of intangible cultural heritage of mankind. A series of traditional customs, such as dragon dance, lion dance and social fire, are its important components.
These customs not only bear the Chinese nation’s eager hope for a happy life, but also show rich and profound humanistic feelings, which together constitute a unique cultural spectacle of the Spring Festival.
"Carefully protect the cultural heritage left by our ancestors" and "Let the excellent Chinese traditional culture live on forever" … … The general secretary’s thinking on culture is profound and long-term.