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Headcloth Custom of Tujia Nationality-Mengpa

Culture 2012/05/17 View:1833

Mengpa, As a special headdress wrapped on head of Tujia ladies, has been a custom of Tujia nationality. At the very day of marriage, the bride has to wrap up Mengpa, then stand on her kneel crying and worshipping for her ancestor and pass the burning incense to her mother in the front of hall, and later is send up to palanquin by riding on her brother’s back. Binding up Mengpa is not a simple bandage of cloth. There are a lot etiquettes worthy of notice. It is not allowed to use new Mengpa. It must be the one which the married maiden often wears. Regards the person who help bride wrap Mengpa, she must be the bride’s best sister or a quick and skilled guest of bride-sender. What’s more, fresh water firstly should be sprinkled on the Mengpa in meaning that the bride is as pure as jade and then bride kowtows to her parent by holding the Mengpa in hand. Bing up Mengpa also requires skill. It couldn’t be too tight or loose. Or, the bride will feel hard to breath and fainty, which is a sign of unfortuness. So, it is vital how well the Mengpa is wrapped.

By Patricia

Mengpa.jpg

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