Autumn-Catching Festival - Ganqiu (Xiangxi)

DATE:08-06-2011

It’s said that in the ancient times, Shennong (the father of Chinese agriculture), the ancestor of Miao ethnic, sent a man and a woman to the east to fetch seed-corns. They taught the Miao people to plant crops and made them have food crops to live on. So, the Miao people around the area from Malichang Town of Huanyuan County to Aizhai Town of Jishou City in Hunan Province enjoy the Autumn-Catching Festival before the Day of Beginning of Autumn every year. They called the man and the woman sent by Shennong to fetch seed-corns Grandpa Autumn and Grandma Autumn, in honor of Shennong’s kindness. Because before the Day of Beginning of Autumn, the crops in paddy fields and non-irrigated farmlands are ripening, and owing to Shennong’s bless, the harvest can be foreseen. Therefore, the festival seems like a sports meet. The Miao people in all directions will get together to hold a celebration to honor the ancestor Shennong, Grandpa Autumn and Grandma Autumn. There are many activities such as song competition, jump drum, swing and other entertainments. Afterwards, Autumn Catching Festival was mixed with some love stories of heroes and beauties. And now the festival not only commemorates Shennong’s great contribution to Chinese agriculture, but also sings high praises to free love.