Explainer | China ethnic minority youth play pranks on elders during Mid-Autumn Festival for longevity
This tradition stems from an ancient legend of a beautiful young woman who favoured sharp, sarcastic comments over hollow flattery
A peculiar custom to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in southern China involves young people actively seeking verbal reprimands from the elders, believing that the more they are scolded, the longer they will live.
This tradition, known as “Mid-Autumn cursing” or ma zhongqiu in Chinese, is primarily practised by the Zhuang ethnic minority in Xilin county, Baise, Guangxi province.
The Zhuang, estimated to number around 19 million, are the largest minority group in China. They predominantly live in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, as well as in Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Hunan provinces.
This unique practice has its roots in an ancient legend about a beautiful young woman who preferred sharp, sarcastic remarks over insincere sweet talk.
One Mid-Autumn night, a young man publicly chastised a thief who had stolen the woman’s sugar cane. Captivated by his audacity, she quickly fell in love with him, ultimately marrying him.
This quirky Mid-Autumn Festival tradition transforms a tranquil holiday into an evening of playful mischief.