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????The ethnic
groups of China are distinguished by their different
traditions and customs in marriage, childbirth, funerals,
festivals, food, housing, costume, hosting guests and
recreational activities.
????The people's
government takes care to accord respect to the traditions
and customs of the minority groups, and works to gain
broad acceptance of these by the population as a whole,
especially among Han cadres and Han people living in
minority areas. Serious offences against the traditions
and customs of minorities may be punished by a sentence
of two years' imprisonment or other forms of custody
as stipulated by the penal code. The government also
has adopted measures to protect ethnic traditions and
customs. Vacation is regularly provided for ethnic festival
days; pig-raising is discouraged among Islamic groups
that have traditions against eating pork; special meals
are provided for Huis and Uygurs at their places of
work or given subsidies allowing them to have meals
at nearby Islamic restaurants; and special arrangements
are made for the production and supply of specific utensils
and articles needed by the various minorities.
????Since 1949,
many of the old customs and traditions that benefit
production and prosperity have been further developed,
for example, the Ongkor (Harvest) Festival of the Tibetan
people, the Mongolian traditional festival, the Nadam
Fair, the Corban of the Huis and Uygurs, and the Water-Sprinkling
Festival of the Dais. These have become days on which
people hold cultural physical activities, exchange goods
and discuss farming innovations. As the political and
cultural awareness of the more primitive minorities
rise and their economy improves, they have taken steps
to voluntarily give up some ancient customs and traditions
that are emotionally and physically harmful. Among these
practices are such customs as the slaughter of draft
animals for religious purposes, restrictions preventing
men from transplanting rice seedlings and women from
ploughing, prohibitions against doing field work on
special days, and the practices of polygamy, polyandry,
early marriage and outdoor childbirth.
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