Miao Sisters' Rice

Miao Sisters' Rice

　　Every year on the 15th day of the third lunar month, Miao villages prepare colorful Sisters' Rice to joyfully celebrate the Sisters' Rice Festival. The rice is made from glutinous rice, which is processed in various ways to create a spectrum of vibrant colors. On this day, if young men from other villages come to visit, they are given a warm welcome by the girls. When it’s time to part, the young men ask the girls for Sisters' Rice, and the girls fill baskets or fresh handkerchiefs with the rice to give to them. Often hidden within the rice are symbolic "clues" — known as “mizi” — that convey the girls’ feelings: if pine needles are tucked inside, it means the young man should repay the girl with embroidered needles and silk thread; if a pair of chopsticks or red flower petals are included, it’s an invitation for him to hurry up and marry her; if the rice contains chili peppers or garlic, it’s a sign that they are not meant to be and he shouldn’t waste his efforts. Sisters' Rice is like a love letter without words, bringing together countless happy unions. (Southeast Guizhou)