Festivals
Lesser Bairam is the day when Moslems resume their meat
diet after fasting.When the day arrives, Hui Moslems must
bath and change their clothes before going to the mosque
to attend the meetings and services. After the religious
services, they have to chant scriptures in front of their
ancestors' tombs, praying for the deceased persons and showing
they have not forgotten them. After they get back from the
graveyard, they offer their good wishes to the elders and
neighbors. They also give each other or entertain the guests
with some of the Huis' special food such as Youxiang (salted
cake fried in sesame oil) and Sanzi (fried noodles).
Seventy days after the Lesser Bairam, December the tenth
on the Moslem Calendar, is the Corban. This is another important
holiday for the Huis. It is also called "The Feast
of Slaughter" or "the Feast of Sacrifice,"
or colloquially "Festival of Loyalty and Obedience."
It is the last day for Moslems to go on a pilgrimage to
Mecca, and every Hui household must kill cattle and sheep
to celebrate. Like the Lesser Bairam, on the day of the
Corban, the Huis also gather at the mosques to hold meetings
and services. When these are over, another important ceremony
is given to the slaughter of cattle, sheep or camels. The
meat itself is divided into three portions, one for the
owners, one for their relatives and neighbors, and one to
be given to the poor. After the slaughter, people visit
relatives and friends, offering their good wishes for the
festival.