Amis harvest festivals facts for kids

The Amis people of Taiwan celebrate many small and larger harvest festivals and ceremonies throughout the year. These festivals are super important for their culture and way of life.

What is the Harvest Festival?

The Harvest Festival, also called the Harvest Ceremony, is one of the most important celebrations for native tribes in Taiwan. It's held to celebrate the year's harvest, usually lasting about seven days. This festival happens during July, August, and September. Different tribes pick different times to celebrate in their areas.

Long ago, the main reason for the festival was to pray to their ancestors and gods. They wished for good crops, more people in the tribe, and healthy animals for the next year. After the special rituals, everyone would gather for dinner, dancing, a campfire party, and games. Today, besides honoring ancestors and gods, the Harvest Festival also helps attract tourists to learn about Amis culture.

The Amis Harvest Festival usually takes place on the full moon day after the autumn harvest. In the past, it celebrated the millet harvest. But now, since rice is the main crop for the Amis, the ceremony happens after the rice is gathered. Amis people in the Taitung area celebrate in lunar July. Those in the Hualien area celebrate in lunar August. How they celebrate and how long it lasts can be different for each tribe. Some celebrate for just one day, while others celebrate for up to seven days.

During the festival, men, women, and children wear special costumes. They dance hand-in-hand, led by a singer. For young Amis men and women, singing and dancing are important ways to find partners. If a girl likes a boy, she will actively stand by him and dance with him.

The Amis Harvest Festival is very important for showing respect to ancestors. It also celebrates new life and the future of the tribe. In Amis tribes, men have the important job of keeping their tribe safe. Attending the adult ceremony is a big step for boys becoming men. All men in the tribe are divided into different groups. These groups include children, teenagers, warriors, fathers of the youth, elders, and chieftains. Each group has different responsibilities in the tribe. During the festival party, the elders sit in the middle. The young people dance around them and offer them drinks. This is also a time when they might choose someone who could become the next chief of the tribe.

The Priest's Role

A special person called the priest leads the ceremony. The priest is in charge of all the important rituals. Since Amis ceremonies are closely linked to farming, the priest also guides activities like plowing, planting, weeding, and harvesting. A priest needs to know the calendar, the weather, and the tribe's history. They also know how to dance and talk with the gods. Because of all this knowledge, the priest is a very wise and respected person.

Getting Ready for the Festival

Before the ceremony, the tribe's leader gathers members of a special group called the "kaput." They discuss all the details, like choosing the exact day for the ceremony. They also collect money for the big dinner party. Then, they start buying everything needed for the celebration.

A traditional custom is for beef to be the main dish for the big dinner party, called "malafi." The number of cows butchered depends on the size of the tribe. A specific group of young men, called the "pakalogay," are in charge of butchering the cows.

Inviting Guests

According to Amis tradition, the day before the ceremony, the tribe hosting the celebration sends young men to other tribes. Their job is to invite important guests to join the festival.

The Big Dinner: Malafi Ko Niyaro

Attending dinner is a very old custom for the Amis during the Harvest Festival. It's a wonderful chance for everyone in the tribe to meet and make their relationships stronger. This big dinner must be held the night before the main ceremony. All tribe members should attend. This helps to unite everyone in the tribe.

Amis Festival Clothes

The Amis people have two types of clothes. One type is for everyday wear, and the other is for special festivals. The Harvest Festival is a very important day for the Amis. On this day, they wear their special festival clothes for the ceremony. They also wear hats decorated with rooster feathers. The number of feathers on a hat shows how important that person is in the tribe.

Dancing and Singing

Dancing and singing are a must-have part of the Harvest Festival celebration. Songs are seen as a way for people to talk with the spirits of their ancestors and the gods. The songs used in the ceremony are traditional and serious. Because tribes live in different places and have different ancestors, the dancing and singing can vary among Amis tribes. Songs for adults and children are also different. Children's songs are often about imaginary things. Adult songs are more about real-life things, like fishing and farming.

Usually, one person leads a song, and others join in a chorus. For dancing, people typically hold hands and dance in a circle. This is believed to keep away "bad spirits" from the party. The dance moves are mostly walking, running, and jumping. Generally, dances in coastal areas are more complex and varied than those in mountainous areas. A famous dance from the harbor areas is called "Makotaay."

Dinner Party for Elders

Elders are highly respected by the Amis people. This dinner party is a way for young people to show their respect to the elders and learn from them. It's also a time when elders observe the young men. They look for someone who has the potential to be the next leader of the tribe.

The Adult Ceremony

In Taiwan's native tribes, the age groups of males are very important. This is because the male age structure helps decide the tribe's social rules, how they teach morals, and their ability to protect the tribe. Male age groups are usually divided into three main parts: elders, adults, and teenagers. Before becoming an adult, a teenager must be trained and pass different tests. So, the Adult Ceremony is very meaningful for the Amis.

Each tribe has different customs, so the adult ceremony is held at different times. It can be every three years or up to every eight years. This ceremony is a key part of the Harvest Festival. Boys and young men from ages thirteen to twenty take part. In the past, those attending the ceremony had to live in the tribe's main hall. They would be trained for about two weeks. During this training, if a participant got a promotion, his mother or girlfriend would prepare wine, cakes, and clothes for him. The young men learn important life skills and how to be obedient during this training. After the adult ceremony, they truly become men of the tribe.

On the day of the ceremony, the young men bring a barrel of wine and a chick from their homes to a special place. The elders and the priest say good words to them and wish them luck. A running race is a special test for them. Passing this race means they are now adults and can serve their tribe.

The Night of Finding Partners

The last night of the Harvest Festival is often called the "Night of Valentine's Day." This is when young people choose their partners. Girls and boys dance around a campfire under the moonlight. They tell the person they like how they feel. This activity can last until the next morning.

During this time, all the young men have a bag on their backs and dance together. Then, all the young women join in the dance. Later, a girl puts a betel nut into the bag of the boy she likes. If the boy also likes her, he will give his bag to the girl. Then, they become a couple.

Notable Amis People

• Icyang Parod, a former Minister of Council of Indigenous Peoples.
• Kawlo Iyun Pacidal, a former member of Legislative Yuan.
• Sufin Siluko, a member of Legislative Yuan.
• Sra Kacaw, a member of Legislative Yuan.
• Mayaw Dongi, a former Minister of Council of Indigenous Peoples (2013-2016).
• Chang Chen-yue, a singer.
• Difang and Igay Duana, a husband-and-wife folk music duo.
• Van Fan, a singer and actor.
• Jam Hsiao, a singer.
• Ehlo Huang, an actor and member of pop group 183 Club.
• Li Tai-hsiang, a composer and folk songwriter.
• Lin Chih-chieh, a basketball player.
• Show Lo, a singer and actor.
• Tank, a singer.
• Tseng Li-cheng, a 2012 Olympics Taekwondo bronze medallist.
• Chin-hui Tsao, a baseball player.
• Chen Chih-yuan, a baseball player.
• Yang Chuan-kwang, an Olympic decathlete.
• Teruo Nakamura, a Taiwan-born soldier.
• A-Lin, a singer and songwriter.
• Suming, an actor, singer, and songwriter. His music often includes parts of traditional Amis culture.
• Ilid Kaolo, a singer and songwriter.
• Kuo Dai-chi, a baseball player.
• Dai-Kang Yang, a baseball player.
• Kuo Hsing-chun, an Olympic weightlifter.
• Tseng Te-Ping, a singer.