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Chickens as Matchmakers: Dai Festival Traditions in Yunnan

12/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

During the Dai New Year festival in Yunnan, China, women of the Dai ethnic minority take chickens to the market to attract suitors in a practice called "Chicken as a Matchmaker."
The custom is called Yuesao in the Dai language and is part of a water-throwing festival.
The Dai population is about 1.3 million.
Local Han people refer to the tradition as Chuan guniang, meaning "visiting girls."

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Story summary

During the Dai New Year festival in Yunnan, China, women of the Dai ethnic minority take chickens to the market to attract suitors in a practice called "Chicken as a Matchmaker."
The custom is called Yuesao in the Dai language and is part of a water-throwing festival.
The Dai population is about 1.3 million.
Local Han people refer to the tradition as Chuan guniang, meaning "visiting girls."