The father, or the oldest son, should lead family members in offering sacrifices to ancestors, as well as the sky, earth, water, sun, moon, dragon and hearth; the sacrifices consist of wine, meat, rice and water as well as other edible substance. Sacrifices are also offered to doors, poles, water jars, stalls and big farm tools.

When the family members sit together for dinner, they take a slice from each dish to put outside doors for homeless ghosts. Food is also provided for the dogs. This is due to a legend of a dog that once begged for five seeds from the god of heaven after a devastating flood had submerged all the plants. So dogs are also honored before the eating of a banquet.

On the first day of the New Year, the men of the families get up very early and set off firecrackers at dawn just as the roosters are beginning to crow. They also go to the wells to fetch new water and offer sacrifices to the god of well. With the dawning of the sun, the whole family gets up and puts on splendid attire to greet the god of wealth, and make tangyuan (boiled rice dumpling) to offer as a sacrifice to the other gods. Then a tangyuan is made to paste on the forehead of any children to symbolize the children being a year older.

The first day of the New Year is called "Queen's Day" by the Yi Ethnic Minority in Yuanyang County, meaning women do no or very little housework on this day. The men of the families prepare all meals. No matter how big a rice bowl might be, the rice in it should be filled to the rim to symbolize there will be enough food in the coming year.

No visits are made or no carpentry work done on the first day of the New Year; housewives take their children to visit their parents home on the second or third day.

(Author: Jeff)

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