Yifan Festival is a grand traditional festival for the Mulao people to offer sacrifice to their ancestors and the Gods, to celebrate the harvest and to pray for the safety of people and cattle. The time to celebrate Yifan Festival varies in different districts. In Dongmen Village, Luocheng Mulao autonomous county, the families of Luos celebrate Yifan Festival on the Beginning of Winter of the leap year of the Lunar calendar, and the ceremony is held every other five years. In Siba Village the families of Xies celebrate it at the beginning of winter in the Years of the Ox, Dragon, Sheep and Dog of the Lunar calendar, and aceremony is held every three years. In Dawu Village and Siba Village the families of Wus celebrate it on the first Sheep Day after the beginning of winter in the years of the Rabbit, Sheep and Pig of the Lunar calendar, and the ceremony is held every four years. Other families have similar customs. The Yifan Festival lasts for one to three days.
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