The Xibes celebrate many traditional
festivals, which are mostly similar to those of the Hans, such as the Spring
Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, and Dragon Boat Festival, etc.
Prior to the last day of a lunar
year, every family will slay pigs and sheep, and prepare various dishes, New
Year cakes and fried rice balls. On the night of the eve, all family members
make dumplings and cook them on January 1; and January 2, people will eat
longevity noodles. While making the noodles, the pastry will be cooked in
another pot, taken out and put in water. While eating, people put the meat soup
in the noodle, which means to send off the former year and welcome the new
one.
The Xibes in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region fix April 18 of each lunar calendar year as the West Moving Festival.
During the festival, every family will eat fish, and steam meat. On the
occasion, people will go picnic in groups. In the past, every family made pastry
catsup, and preserved it as spice for future use in a
jar.