First Moon
odd: label: Local Number
content: HSFA 1988.5.6
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Gordon, Richard, 1953-
label: Collection Creator
content: Hinton, Carma
setName: label: See more items in
content: Richard Gordon and Carma Hinton films
physdesc: label: Extent
content: Film reels (38 minutes, color sound)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1987
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Edited film shot in China among villagers of the Yellow River Valley. Film depicts the festivities of New Moon, the traditional 15 day period of New Years' celebrations which coincides with the end of the annual agricultural cycle. Events represented include private ceremonial observances within households associated with ancestor worship, the propitiation of Gods which influence various spheres of peasant life, and the public phases of celebration lasting until the 15th day. Also included are processions of stilt dancers, young costumed girls paraded aloft on metal frames, and the boisterous New Years' shows put on by neighboring villages in a common market town.

Legacy keywords: Language and culture ; Agricultural cycles ; Rites and ceremonies ; Dance ; New Year ceremony ; Domestic and family life