A Bai Custom in Zhangjiajie: Leading a Goat on One's Birthday
'Sixty is old, seventy is rare.' In some Bai areas of Zhangjiajie, once a person passes sixty and both parents have passed away, they may slaughter pigs and sheep for a grand birthday feast. Friends and relatives bring local specialties and pool money to buy a goat as a gift for the 'longevity star.'
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
"At sixty one is called old; at seventy one is called rare." In some Bai ethnic areas of Zhangjiajie, when a person reaches his sixties, if both his parents have already passed away, he may slaughter pigs and sheep and hold a grand birthday banquet in celebration. The old person's relatives and friends generally bring some local specialties, carry baskets on their backs, and several people pool money together to buy a goat, giving it to the "old birthday star" as a gift.
When the goat-givers walk into the courtyard, the leader (usually the old man's son-in-law or in-law relative) carries a load of wine and sets off firecrackers, shouting to the supervising official in charge: "The goat-givers have arrived, why aren't you taking the load?" The supervising official hurriedly calls the helpers to take the back baskets, take the carrying poles, and lead the goat rope, bustling about in a flurry. As soon as the old birthday star sees someone leading a goat to congratulate him on his birthday, he is so happy he cannot even close his mouth. He personally offers cigarettes, pours tea, offers seats, and asks after the goat-givers. The old birthday star believes that having someone give him a goat on his birthday is the greatest trust and respect from the whole stockade or village, and the best affirmation of what he has done or of his conduct throughout his life. So he immediately orders the helpers to slaughter the goat, and serves the delicious mutton at the banquet, to taste together and drink together, and for a time there is laughter and joyful voices, full of harmony and happiness.
Why lead a goat on a birthday? In the Bai ethnic areas there is such a legend. It is said that the goat was originally a great immortal in heaven, and because it violated the heavenly laws, it was banished to the mortal world. The Heavenly Emperor asked the goat immortal: "In the end a goat cannot escape a knife and will become a delicious dish for people. Now I give you a special privilege: choose your own way to die." The goat immortal said: "When I die, I want people to laugh politely, eat politely, and drink politely." The Heavenly Emperor agreed and said: "Then choose to be in the mortal world, when the Bai people celebrate their birthdays, let people lead you, and fulfill your wish." So the goat immortal happily let itself be led, becoming the most welcome and grand gift for the Bai people's birthdays.