The third day of the third month of the lunar calendar is the traditional "Plow Day” of the Paiyao people. It is also known as “Spring Outing Day” and signifies the start of spring plowing. On this day, the Yao people kill their chickens and make tofu to pay tribute to their ancestors and pray to King Pangu for good weather and a bumper harvest in the coming year, so it is also called “Pray Day”.
On April 1, 2008, a grand “Plow Day” program was held in Gupai, Nangang, Liannan Yao autonomous county. April 1 is the fourth day of the third month, according to the lunar calendar. Why was the date of “Plow Day” changed? Because it was Saturday, the travel agencies brought more than 1000 Guangzhou citizens to Liannan to see the “most beautiful village in Guangdong” and many urban dwellers who could not tell wheat from beans wanted to know how Yao people plow.
At 2:30 in the afternoon, people from Guangzhou were everywhere in the village.
The cannon shot three guns
Toot! Ox horns were blown.
Clang! Gongs were struck.
"Xian Sheng Gong,” who presides over the affairs of the Yao people, killed a chicken to pay tribute to their ancestors and placed crop seeds on tabletops as offerings to the God of Land. Then he shook a copper knife and a copper bell and chanted the Yao sutras: Spring has come, spring festival has passed, lucky birds have sung songs, the day of spring plowing has come, every household should start plowing, work hard on farm work, use sweat to get good harvest this year and control their livestock from damaging crops from today till the “Harvest Day” on the 16th day of the 10th month.
After the ceremony, the Yao villagers left and started plowing in the fields and mountains.
