A creature that has served us well

Festival celebrations

The ox is not only celebrated every twelve years, like other zodiac animals. With its high status, across China there are a lot of regional festivals celebrating the ox throughout the year, a rare reception among zodiac animals.

One of the most representative is the ox king festival, a folk festival celebrated by many ethnic groups. As the name implies, these festivals are established to pay tribute and appreciation to cattle.

Not only have the people, across time and space, reached the consensus to worship the ox king, many of the customs are similar, involving giving their farming cattle a day off, a good bath and a gourmet meal.

On the first day of the 10th lunar month, the Gelao ethnic group in Guizhou province serve their cattle with the best fodder and clean the shed, meanwhile preparing meat and alcohol as sacrificial offerings to the ox king, wishing the cattle good health. Even those without their own cattle will prepare offerings and pray that they will soon possess one.