Customs of She Township
Men do not carry water, and women do not hold plows. Most of the She people live in mountainous areas, mainly growing rice and sweet potatoes, as well as forestry, tea, and hunting. She women do not have the custom of foot binding, and they go to the fields and climb the mountains just like men. But according to custom, men do not carry water or plant vegetables; women do not hold the plow or harrow. This is no longer the case.
Niu Sandan On the third day after the calf is born, the Niu Lord hosts a banquet to entertain the family and village neighbors, and distributes sesame seeds to the children in the village. On this day, the cows eat rice mixed with brown sugar and drink rice wine mixed with eggs and brown sugar. Bisu has now disappeared.
Lace clothing Women's clothing has lace on the collar, sleeves, right lapel, and trouser legs. The sleeves and trouser legs are large and short. The bride uses silver jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, and wears a hat shaped like a dog's head. Men wear cardigans and straight-leg pants. At the wedding, the bride will tie a ribbon woven by her own hands on the waist. Both men and women wear blue cloth leggings. Not many people wear national costumes now.
Try new rice. When new rice comes on the scene, the elders should be invited to try new rice. The oldest person takes the first bite of the new rice, and uses chopsticks to pick a little bit of rice from the bowl on the table to show that there is more than enough every year. Then everyone sits down for the first meal. Previously, it was not allowed to put the newly harvested rice in the mouth or even touch it with the lips. When the sickle is opened, a few rice heads and rice stalks should be cut and fed to the cattle to let the cattle taste new things. This custom still exists today.
Draft In the past, most people lived in thatched houses, built mud walls and covered them with straw and thatch, which was called "draft". It is divided into three rooms, the central hall, with the ancestral incense table placed against the wall; the kitchen on the right; and the bedroom on the left. The upper part of the bedroom is made of bamboo and plastered with mud to form a mud floor. The bedroom with a mud floor is called an "earth storehouse". There is no one who lives in the draft now.
Huo Lu Tang: A long pit is dug in front of the stove door, called the Huo Lu Tang, for warming up over the fire, depending on the family size and social needs of the large/J ship. When the weather is cold, people sit around the fire pit to entertain, eat, and sing songs. Therefore, guests should wait until they enter the kitchen before greeting them. On New Year's Eve, a large piece of burning firewood should be buried in the hot ashes of the stove overnight, which is called "cooking the New Year pig". The remaining fire of the firewood cannot be extinguished. This custom is now abolished.
The ancestral basket is composed of two bamboo boxes, one containing the ancestor incense burner and artifacts of this branch, and the other containing a set of cloth-painted "ancestral pictures"; the pictures are more than 20 meters long and 0.5 meters wide. , more than 20 paintings depicting the history of the She people. The ancestral temple is publicly owned by the clan and cannot be occupied privately. Ancestor pictures must be hung during sacrificial ceremonies.
Intermarriage with the same surname. In the past, the Tan clan did not intermarry with other clans. People with the same surname but different clans could intermarry within the clan; now, people of the same clan can marry after five generations. Men of Italian descent are not discriminated against. In the old days, in addition to child brides, there were also "child brides". During the Republic of China, local Han people occasionally married She women, but women were not married to She people. Nowadays, there is no taboo on intermarriage.
Antiphons are sung throughout the night on festivals and festive occasions. Antiphons are an integral part of ceremonial activities. When a girl is getting married, a female singer is hired to sing in duet with the "red man" sent by the groom, including songs to encourage drinking, songs to marry a girl, and marriage songs. If a guest who is good at singing comes, a young man whose gender is different from that of the guest should come and sing in antiphonal style. Before the duet, everyone has to pool some money to give to the singer among the guests, and the host entertains everyone with snacks. The content of antiphonal songs includes fixed historical songs, story songs, etc., as well as traditional antiphonal songs used to challenge each other, and more improvised songs. Young men and women also sing antiphonally during work or on the way out, compiling and singing along with each other, which is called "singing folk songs". , some people fall in love with each other because of this. It is necessary to sing when worshiping ancestors and doing meritorious deeds. There are internal rules and regulations, but it is not right to just sing. Nowadays, She people still like to sing, but antiphonal singing is no longer popular among young people.
Secret language: Strangers of the same ethnic group who come to visit must be examined in secret language; for example, if asked, "How many pieces of moso bamboo are there in a row?" The visitor's surname is Lan, and the answer is "Six Come". For example, the surname is Lei and Zhong. Just answer "Five come". If the guest can answer the question, he will be treated as a distinguished guest. Outsiders must learn the secret language and keep it secret: some old people still know some secret languages.
Wen Kou Cake The matchmaker goes to the woman to be a matchmaker and brings two packets of cakes called "Wen Kou Cake". If the woman accepts a packet, she expresses her willingness to consider the marriage; if the woman returns the cake after the blind date, she expresses her disapproval of the marriage; if the woman does not return the cake, it is basically a done deal.
Basic customs of the marriage process of the Longyou Muchen She people
After young men and women are free to fall in love (in the past, it was decided by adults), they must choose an auspicious day to get married (usually a man marries a woman).
(1). The woman’s wedding
On the wedding day, the man goes to the woman’s house to get married. There are the matchmaker, the in-laws, two Akaros (the head Akaro and Akarozi), two young girls (to pick up the bride), and four people carrying the sedan chair.
Akaro used a small basket to pick up the gifts specified in the wedding ceremony list: pork, chicken, fish, incense gift-hoof fat, candles, candies, firecrackers, cigarettes, 2-4 kilograms of noodles, two sugar canes, and a piece of cloth ( called rat tail, for the mother of the bride) and so on. When the wedding party is approaching the bride's house, firecrackers are set off to indicate that the bride's family is about to arrive, and the bride's family also sets off firecrackers to receive it.
Blocking the door: When the groom is about to enter the bride’s house, the bride’s groom and the young woman will half-close the door to prevent entry. The door is all mine, take a pair of red envelopes in my hand, and I will open the door when you bring the red envelope. The door is easy to open but it is difficult to open. Bring cigarettes and wedding candies. Take the cigarettes and wedding candies in my hand. I will open the door when you bring the candy and cigarettes. One after another, there are red envelopes, and there are five red envelopes. Five generations of red envelopes are in my hand, and the red envelopes are taken together to open the door. "The man handed over the prepared red envelopes, candies and cigarettes one by one, and finally presented five red envelopes tied together. Five Daixiong), just opened the door to let the wedding party enter the house.
Catching scales (called catching frogs): The young woman brings warm water to the bride and groom to wash their faces. After everyone washes their faces, the face cloth is spread across the face plate and a red envelope is placed on it.
Giving gifts: The matchmaker and the in-laws will clearly explain the gifts specified in the gift list to the woman's father, uncle and other direct relatives. Any missing item or reduced quantity must be made up by the in-laws.
Borrow (钅鹹马): The girl has collected all the utensils in the kitchen, and the groom, Akaro, borrows them from his employer. "My in-laws, grandparents, great-aunts, great-uncles, aunts, and next-door neighbors will lend you a square wall (stove), two iron pots (iron pots), and a lid. Yes. I'll lend you a treasure like your aunt and aunt, a knife and flint (match or lighter), a gold water rod, a silver water vat, a gold rod and a silver water vat... Thank you, aunt and aunt, for helping me. Let's make breakfast early. Eat, and the bride and groom will come to the church early.”
Akaro carries water: The woman prepares rice dumplings and hats for Akaro to put on, and the young girl accompanies Akaro to carry water. After the journey, the girl deliberately threw the sand into the bucket. The water was not clean, so she dragged Chiro to pick it up again. Chichichiro repeatedly enhanced the lively scene of the wedding.
Helping the bride: About halfway through the banquet, the in-laws use small firecrackers to urge the bride three times (to urge the bride to leave her mother’s house early and in the sedan chair). The first time they set off firecrackers outside the door, and the second time they set off firecrackers outside the door. The nave is placed outside the door, and the third time is placed outside the door from the bride's room. Every time the matchmaker and in-laws set off firecrackers, they will be recorded in front of the director (meaning to ask the director to prepare the bride for leaving the house early).
The mother cries for marriage: The director (the person who takes care of the bride and does some specific things when the bride gets married) puts the rice sieve on the floor of the nave, puts red paper inside the sieve, and puts a mirror, a ruler and a pair of scissors on it. , the uncle carries the bride onto the rice sieve, the director stands next to the bride, and the parents, brother-in-law, sisters and direct relatives stand around. First, the mother holds the bride's hand and sings folk songs while crying, "My mother is heartbroken when I nurse her daughter and marry her. She slept in her mother's bed when she was a child. She was not allowed to take care of her when she was young. When she grows up, she will always get married." I am worried, I slept with my mother when I was young, I was not comfortable raising a daughter when I was young, and now I am married far away. As a wife, don’t talk too much, don’t talk too much, think about both good and bad things, and do more work at home. . A daughter-in-law must be sincere, and it is important to treat others politely. The sisters-in-law and aunts are reconciled, and the family is united." Then, the director instructed the bride to call her parents, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters, and relatives to play at her house. One gives a red envelope to the bride. (To express congratulations)
The bride gets on the sedan: The uncle carries the bride onto the sedan. When lifting the bride, she rolls two red eggs outside the door to signify her departure from her natal home. The matchmaker and in-laws should thank and say goodbye to the bride's parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters and other direct relatives one by one.
Pick up the uncle: After the bride’s sedan chair is carried out, the matchmaker and in-laws will pick up the uncle and go to the groom’s side for the banquet together. They will help carry the bag of cakes, cigarettes and red envelopes packed by the uncle and hand them over to the groom. Guest handling staff.
(2) Groom’s Wedding
When the bride is carrying the bride on the road and encounters someone blocking the way to ask for candy, the matchmaker or in-laws must share the good deeds with the candy and the smoke with everyone. (Roadside folk song omitted)
When the bride's sedan chair was about to be carried to the groom's house, both parties set off firecrackers to receive it.
Drinking brown sugar tea: The sedan chair is carried into the husband’s house. As soon as it reaches the door, the bride rolls in two red eggs (indicating that the bride is marrying from her natal family to her husband’s family). Then, the male director serves brown sugar tea to the bride. After drinking, they sang folk songs, "The bride dressed up and got into the sedan, and the sedan bearers carried her over. When the sedan bearers arrived, the sedan took a rest. After the sedan rested, tea with brown sugar was brought, and the bride's food was brought with the sugar tea. After drinking sugar and tea, he got off the sedan chair. After drinking sugar and tea, he went to the hall. The groom dressed up and waited for the bride to be handed down. The linen bag was spread out and passed down from generation to generation. When it reaches the groom’s room, the bride’s knot will last for thousands of years.”
The director asked the bride to get off the sedan chair and supported the bride to stand in the middle hall. Another director accompanied the groom to the middle hall and held the worship ceremony. (The current form is that when the bride arrives at her husband’s house, the director will help her sit on a bench and change into her husband’s new shoes before she enters the house. Then she enters the house for worship. During the ceremony, the groom’s parents and the woman’s uncle all avoid)
Passing on from generation to generation: Boys and girls bring candles and light them to the bride and groom. The two directors spread the sacks on the ground and let the bride and groom step on them to enter the room. Several sacks are used in turn and they slowly walk to the bedside. The bride and groom both stand by the bed, and the director brings two boiled eggs and gives each of the bride and groom a bite (meaning they eat and live together).
Toast: When the banquet reaches a certain time, the bride and groom both toast to the guests. (The first is to meet the guests, and the second is to express gratitude)
Rooming together: After the banquet is over, the guests usually leave for a moment, the bowls are put away, and then the two directors ask the groom’s parents and grandparents to stand. In the middle hall, the bride and groom stand at the bottom, smile and bow to their elders (to express filial piety to their elders), and then the directors send the bride and groom into the bridal chamber, close the door, and set off small firecrackers from the side of the room to the outside.
Send shoes: The next morning, the bride makes a cup of sugar tea for the guests present, and presents a new pair of shoes to each of her husband’s parents (to show that the new daughter-in-law is smart and skillful). Return the gift with a red envelope.
Send off to the uncle: The groom and the bride go to her parents’ home together. The groom will first see off her uncle and wait until the uncle gives her a red envelope. Then the groom will go home and return to her parents’ home with the bride. .
Apprenticeship
In the old days, most folk artists had to recruit apprentices in order to have successors. At the same time, a division generally leads only one disciple. Before becoming a disciple, one must be recommended by an "introducer" (introducer), and a meeting gift is required for the first meeting. Gifts vary in size, but at least two bottles of wine, a pig's head, two bags (cakes and candies), and a red envelope are required. If the master accepts the greeting gift, it means that he is willing to accept the apprentice; if he returns the greeting gift, it means that he refuses to accept it. To formally become a disciple, you must enter into a discipleship agreement (i.e., a written contract, also known as a contract or a contract, the content of which usually includes the apprenticeship time, rules, etc.). The investment broker must indicate the "recommender" (introducer), "intermediary person" (witness), and "guarantor" (guarantor). There are also cases where the "recommender" is responsible for all three. The appointment with the tutor must be signed by the parents before it can take effect. Then on a good day, with red candles burning high, a ceremony to worship the master will be held. First, worship "the Lord of Heaven and Earth, dear master", and then kowtow to the master. Before kowtow, you should say: "Disciple ×××, I am willing to learn the art under the name of my mentor as my disciple, respect the teacher and abide by the rules, and remain unchanged in the end...". After reciting, he kowtowed and paid homage to his master, handing over the apprenticeship appointment. At the expense of the apprentice's family, the master's wine is set up to reward the master and all those who participated in the ceremony. After liberation, artists' apprenticeships were simplified, but certain apprenticeship ceremonies were also required. For example, a table was set up at the apprentice's home to toast the master, and the master, local cadres, and elders were invited. Before entering the table, the apprenticeship agreement was written down and submitted to the school. After paying the art fee, you can bring rations, daily necessities, and a change of clothes to the master's home to start your art career.
The time required to learn skills as a master is generally three years (for those who learn quickly, the time to become a master can be shortened, but the formal training time is three years). If an apprentice is able to perform before the three years are up, all the income will go to the master (some masters also give pocket money to the apprentice). During the apprenticeship period, the apprentice is not allowed to change apprentices. During the day, the apprentice must help the master to work in the fields, and when he returns, he will help the master's wife with housework and taking care of the children. Most of them work during the day and study at night. The master goes out to perform as a performer, while the apprentice carries luggage and props. While the master sang, the apprentice listened and took notes. In summer, the apprentice has to fan the master, and in winter, he has to bring hot tea to the master. In daily life, he has to light cigarettes and wash clothes for the master. The apprentice is not allowed to make any noise when eating together with the master, and should finish eating before the master. As the saying goes, "the master eats first, and the apprentice puts the bowl first." Apprentices can only eat coarse vegetarian dishes. Even if the master in charge asks for meat dishes, the apprentices cannot eat them. Only when the master asks for it can he eat a piece of fatty meat. At the end of the performance, the apprentice must pack up the props, bring face wash to the master, make the bed and do other chores.
After completing three years as a teacher, some have to help the teacher (commonly known as "half-service") for three years. To help a master earn money by performing for free for three years, all the money earned is given to the master, and then the master pays the apprentice pocket money, which cannot exceed half of the money earned. After the "half-time" period expires, the apprentice can earn a living by practicing his craft alone. There are also apprentices who, after completing their term of apprenticeship, work for a master for free for a month and give all the money they earn to the master, and they are considered to have left the apprenticeship. In the past, most artists were illiterate and had to learn by ear and heart until they mastered all the songs in the master's belly.
When leaving the school, there should be a "full of wine" and a banquet to reward the master for his teachings. There are also cases where the master pays for the banquet and banquets with colleagues or famous local people, asking them to help the apprentice build relationships and pave the way for future performances.
Performance
Taoqing rap generally does not hold a ceremony and has no customs like opera performances. It is not restricted by the occasion and stage. It only needs a table, a few stools or a piece of music. Once the two ends of the door panel are put together, the artist can sit on it, just a little higher than the audience. Wait for the audience to take their seats, beat the fishing drum several times, and start singing after the venue is quiet. At the beginning of the performance, the artist will introduce himself, give a brief introduction, and say some polite words such as asking the audience to bear with him. Then, at the beginning, he will briefly introduce the content of the performance. During the introduction, the artist will also express it in the form of lyrics, commonly known as "Curved Hat". The main purpose of the plot introduction is to enable the audience to grasp the context of the plot and understand it during the singing process; in addition, it is also a common method used by artists to grab the audience's attention and whet everyone's appetite.
The artist must first sing the "Tandou Opera" before singing the original version. Whether the singing is good or not will be known after listening to "Tantou Opera".
In the old days, when some local artists entered a village, they first had to meet the local gentry and clan chief. If you encounter a teacher or a colleague performing locally, you must first meet the teacher, then the colleague, and obtain their permission before singing. The rule is "the teacher is the greatest, and the one who comes first is the greatest." When performing in a place, one has to compose a repertoire that praises the local scenery and customs, and sing it before the official performance. In the first month of every year, the ancestor is worshipped before the first performance. Patriarchs vary from place to place. You can call yourself the Patriarch, and some honor the Patriarch of the Master as the Patriarch.
Production customs
Quzhou is located in the western border of Zhejiang, without the benefits of fishing and salt, and is mostly based on agriculture. Money is worth a puff of cigarettes; money for business is worth sixty years; money for farming is worth tens of thousands of years. "Most of the production customs reflect rural farming.
Marriage
Engagement In the old days, marriage was based on family status, and the emphasis was on "matching the right family" and obeying "the orders of parents and the words of the matchmaker." Neither the man nor the woman has any autonomy, and it is like a marriage by purchase and sale.
When concluding a marriage, you first ask a matchmaker to arrange a match. When seeking marriage, the male matchmaker goes to the girl's home to ask for her, and there is absolutely no case where a girl asks for a boy. The matchmaker must be treated as a guest, and wine and food must be prepared. As the saying goes, "The success of a marriage depends on hundreds and twenty bottles of wine." After both parties agree, the man will accompany the man to the woman's house for a "blind date." After the woman agrees, her parents or brothers, or even a matchmaker or relatives will accompany the girl to the man's house for a "blind date." After the blind date, the man chooses an auspicious day and asks someone to bring a gift to the woman to ask for the birth year, month, day, and hour. After getting the "Nian Geng Tie" back, you have to ask a blind fortune teller to "combine the eight characters". The horoscopes cannot conflict with each other, such as "dragon and tiger fighting", "two dragons in different pools", "chicken and rabbit in different cages", etc. are not suitable for marriage. The man also needs to send the horoscope to the woman for marriage. If the eight characters match, and the parents of both parties agree to the marriage, the groom's family will choose a date, write the engagement date on a red dragon and phoenix post, and ask a matchmaker to send it to the bride's family along with the betrothal gift, which is called "engagement." In return, the woman gives a top hat with the number one scholar flower, candies and cakes, etc., as well as a pair of embroidered bags and two evergreen plants, which is commonly known as "return of love". After the engagement, the man and woman are considered husband and wife, and no one else is allowed to come to seek marriage.
The period from engagement to marriage can range from half a year to three years. The wedding period is called "day" and is determined by the fortune teller according to the zodiac signs. If the wedding date is unfavorable to the bride’s family, you can go back and choose a new date. One or two days before the wedding, the man's family sends someone to the woman's home to pick up the dowry, which is called "dowry delivery." Dowry items vary from place to place, generally including acacia quilts, pillows, cabinets, boxes, drawer tables, square stools, foot buckets, descendant buckets, dressing tables and other essential items. In recent years, many dowries are a combination of old and new. In the evening, the groom's family holds a banquet in the "warming room". On the wedding day, the man sends a sedan to welcome the bride. Before the bride gets on the sedan, both mother and daughter cry, indicating that they are inseparable and difficult to leave. This is called "crying marriage". In Jiangshan area, the bride's sedan is taking off on the road, and the younger brother hangs on the sedan bars with both hands to carry it for a certain distance. This is commonly known as "hanging the sedan bars", which also expresses his unwillingness to leave.
There are "weeping marriage words" in the "crying marriage" in Kaihua area, such as "Looking at you to marry the man, the rising tide will lift the boat, step by step on the stairs; the lotus flowers will bloom on the hand, the wife will be married, the parents-in-law will be happy; the wife will go to bed, and the descendants will be full; When the husband comes to the table, the floor is covered with copper coins,... Prosperity will come all year round, and ingots will roll in!" When the sedan arrives at the groom's house, the bride will be supported by Mrs. Li, and she walks in on red carpets or sacks that have been laid out on the ground in turn, which is called "passing on from generation to generation." Then they went to the church to get married, entertained guests in the evening, and then went to the new house after the banquet. Three days after the wedding, the groom and the bride go back to their natal home to meet their parents-in-law, called "Hui Men", and return on the same day.
After the promulgation of the Marriage Law in 1950, marriage autonomy, free love, and civilized marriage were advocated. The red tape of old customs has been gradually reduced.
Marriage Customs In the old days, marriage customs in all counties in Quzhou were roughly the same.
Child brides are usually given as child brides to others because their families are not well-off, have too many people, and have difficulty raising them. They are afraid that their daughters will grow up and cannot afford a dowry, so they become child brides. Weddings are also held at this time. If the man dies before the marriage, the child bride is married off as his daughter, and some never marry.
Bringing in a wife is commonly known as "recruiting a bride". The woman's "recruitment" is usually because she has no brothers in the family. Most of the men who marry into the bride are from poor families, have many brothers, and cannot afford to marry. Son-in-laws who marry into the bride are often discriminated against and cannot be admitted. There is a saying that "a man who recruits a bride is considered a good man if he does not run away for three years." explain. When seeking a bride in the Changshan area, you must write the word "recruiting bride" and place it on the lawn or stone outside the gate to indicate that you are under the supervision of the villagers. If someone offends the villagers after recruiting a bride, they are often kicked out of the village. Therefore, in the past, marrying into a child was regarded as a fearful way. Today, this custom has changed, and those who marry into a child are protected by law.
In marriage exchange, two families, due to their poor family background or harmonious relationship, marry each other's daughter as their daughter-in-law, without giving any financial gifts. This is commonly known as "bao for treasure".
Remarriage is commonly known as "second marriage". Widows generally have to observe mourning for three years before remarrying. However, they are considered dishonorable and do not have the freedom to choose a husband. They must be at the mercy of their clansmen. Those who marry widows are mostly widowed or poor people who cannot afford a wife. The man will marry on an auspicious day and night, and the widow will ride in a "black cane sedan" or "blue cane sedan." After the founding of the People's Republic of China, this custom was abolished.
Happiness is also called "happiness". After the engagement, the man became seriously ill and could not afford it. The two parties agreed to get married ahead of schedule, and the younger sister took the place of her elder brother. If a man dies, a woman becomes a widow. In the old days, there was a custom of non-marriage between people with the same surname, but this has been abolished now.
Funeral Ceremony
Most people are buried after death. The funeral rituals in the old days were complicated and cumbersome, and had a strong superstitious flavor. When an old man is dying, his children must stay by his side until his death, which is commonly known as "sending off". When closing one's eyes, burning straw sandals, umbrellas, baggage, incense paper, and tinfoil is called "giving away money". Place the body on the door panel and move it to the middle hall or the right side in front of the hall. The head is placed with seven tiles, the face is covered with straw paper, a copper coin wrapped in red paper is held in the mouth, and a green oil lamp is lit behind the feet. At the same time, someone was sent to bring an umbrella to relatives and friends' homes to report the funeral. When you go to a relative's or friend's home, you put the umbrella upright on the threshold. When the relative or friend receives the bad news, they prepare gifts and go to pay their respects. Sons-in-law send birthday peaches, rice dumplings, pig heads, whole chickens, and whole geese; relatives and friends generally send joss sticks, birthday quilts, elegiac couplets, silk quilt covers, etc. The coffin is commonly called "falling material". The deceased is washed and dressed before the coffin, and then the eldest son holds the head, and the daughter or son-in-law carries the deceased into the coffin. Charcoal and lime bags are placed in the coffin, and then the "longevity quilts" sent by relatives and friends are covered one by one, and the daughter and daughter-in-law pay their respects. The name of the person who gave the gift, and finally the coffin was closed, which was called "sealing material".
The funeral ceremony is the most solemn. Wealthy people will ask Taoist priests to do a three-day and night ashram before the funeral to save the deceased, which is called "making merit". On the day of the funeral, a person of high status should be asked to read out the sacrificial rites and burn the statue of the god. The children should wear linen and straw sandals to pay homage to relatives and friends in the filial piety hall. During the funeral, the son-in-law held an umbrella over the grave and carried a paper money bag in the lead. Relatives and friends wearing white hats, white pockets and holding incense follow. Gongs and drums were sounded, suonas were played, and paper money was scattered all the way to the cemetery. After the coffin is laid in the ground, it is made of bricks. In the evening, prepare a banquet of "white wine" to send to bereaved relatives and friends, and give each person a towel or five or six feet of white cloth in return, which is called "thank you for your filial piety." After the founding of the People's Republic of China, most of the feudal superstitious content of funerals was abolished, and funeral ceremonies were simplified. Generally, wreaths were sent, black gauze and small white flowers were worn, and memorial services were held to express condolences. After 1979, cremation gradually became popular in cities and towns, while burials were still the main practice in rural areas.