What is the March 3rd Festival? 2025 Date, Origins, Customs and Ethnic Features

1. What is the March 3rd Festival? When is it?

The March 3rd Festival (3rd day of the 3rd lunar month) is a traditional festival celebrated by many ethnic groups in China. In 2025, it falls on March 30th (Sunday). Different regions and ethnic groups have different names and celebrations for this festival, mainly including:

• Han Chinese: Shangsi Festival (ritual cleansing, spring outing)
• Zhuang people: Song Festival (antiphonal singing, throwing embroidered balls)
• Dong/Miao/Yao peoples: Antiphonal singing, sacrificial ceremonies, Lusheng dance
• Taoism: Birthday of Zhenwu Emperor (temple fairs)

Frequently searched questions:

• "When is March 3rd festival?" → March 30, 2025
• "Which ethnic groups celebrate March 3rd?" → Han, Zhuang, Dong and others

2. Origins and Legends of March 3rd

1. Han Chinese Shangsi Festival: Ritual Cleansing

• Originated in the pre-Qin period, when people bathed in rivers ("Fuxi") to cleanse misfortunes.
• Wang Xizhi's "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection" describes the "floating wine cups along the winding canal" activity of Shangsi Festival.

2. Zhuang Song Festival: Courting Through Songs

• Legend says it commemorates the Zhuang song fairy "Third Sister Liu", evolving into song-based courtship customs.
• Listed as National Intangible Cultural Heritage (2006).

3. Other Ethnic Legends

• She people: Commemorate ancestor Panhu with ancestral worship.
• Taoism: Birthday of Zhenwu Emperor, pilgrims visit Wudang Mountain.

3. What Are the Customs of March 3rd? (Regional Features)

1. Han Customs

• Shepherd's purse with boiled eggs (believed to dispel dampness and prevent illness)
• Spring outings (similar to Qingming Festival activities)
• Floating wine cups (literati drinking and composing poetry)

2. Zhuang Customs (Most grand in Guangxi)

• Antiphonal singing (improvised singing between young men and women)
• Throwing embroidered balls (traditional courtship method)
• Five-colored glutinous rice (symbolizing good fortune)
• Firecracker snatching (competitive game)

3. Other Regional Customs

• Fujian: Eating spring pancakes, ancestor worship
• Hunan/Hubei: Shepherd's purse with boiled eggs
• Japan: Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri, displaying dolls)

4. Guangxi March 3rd Holiday Arrangement (2025)

• Holiday duration: Typically 2 days (expected March 30-31, 2025)
• Official events: "Zhuang March 3rd·Bagui Carnival"
• Travel recommendations: Nanning Song Fair, Longji Rice Terraces singing

Popular searches:

• "How many days off for Guangxi March 3rd?" → Usually 2 days
• "What activities in Guangxi for March 3rd?" → Singing, firecracker snatching, folk performances

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why eat shepherd's purse with eggs on March 3rd?

Folk belief says it dispels dampness and prevents headaches. Shepherd's purse sounds like "gathering wealth" in Chinese, symbolizing good fortune.

Q2: What's the difference between March 3rd and Qingming Festival?

• March 3rd: Spring outings, singing, ritual cleansing (3rd lunar month)
• Qingming: Tomb sweeping (April 4-6 solar calendar)

Q3: Which regions celebrate March 3rd most prominently?

Guangxi (Zhuang), Guizhou (Dong/Miao), Fujian (She people), Hubei (Wudang Mountain temple fair).

6. Conclusion

The March 3rd Festival is not just a traditional holiday but an important cultural heritage. Whether experiencing Han Chinese floating wine cups, Zhuang antiphonal singing, or Guangxi's March 3rd holidays, it's all worth exploring! On March 30, 2025, why not visit Guangxi to experience the most vibrant "Song Festival"?