Flowers Represent Love
The young men and women of the Miao ethnic group usually express their love through giving flowers at a special time, which is called "flowers decide relationship."
A celebration is usually held during song festivals. On the day, the women and men gathered in a special field, dancing and singing. If a man takes a fancy to a woman, he would try to put a flower in the rock slope, which can be easily seen by the woman. Then he hides himself. If the woman has a feeling on the man, she will sing a song. Then, the man comes out and sings a song as response. After hearing the song, the woman will give the flower to the man. Then the flower decides their relationship. If under the moonshine, they will sing songs to express love until the moon sets.
Biting Hands to Show Feelings
Biting hands is a unique way to express love among the young men and women of the Miao ethnic group in Hainan Province.
Every festival period, especially on the third day of the third month of every lunar year, the youth sing songs to express their wishes and ideas to seek a congenial partner. Later, the men will catch fishes in the creeks and the women will prepare to boil the fishes and bake rice in a section of thick bamboo. If a man decides to pursuit a woman, he will come to the door of the woman's house to sing songs. The woman will get out and dance with the man to express love if she agrees.
After the man's proposal, the woman will bite the man's hands. If she bites lightly, it means refusal. If she bites heavily or even bites into blood, it shows that the woman would like to accept the man's love. After the relationship is decided by biting hands, they will give gifts to each other as the symbol of commitment for life.
