Hunting Festival

      The Puyuma New Year Festival is a combination of ritual ceremonies held in the eight clans of Puyuma tribe in Taitung County, which includes the Monkey Ritual, Hunting Ritual, and Harvest Festival, etc. Thus, the New Year Festival is the biggest annual event for the Puyuma.

      The Monkey Ritual is referred as a coming-of-age ceremony for Puyuma teenagers. Traditionally, all Puyuma youngsters between the ages of 10 and 18 should live in the "men's house" for six months to receive strict training on physical strength, hunting, and building skills. The youngsters who pass the challenges of making survival in the mountains and bringing back the monkeys to the village for the ritual will become an adult. During the course of the ceremony, the men dance in imitation of the monkeys, and pierce the monkeys with long bamboo spears in singing. Then they throw the monkeys into the air to mourn for the spirits of the animals. Nowadays, the monkeys are replaced with grass effigies in protection of wild animals.

      The Hunting Ritual is a ceremonial occasion right before the Harvest Festival for coming-of-age men to go hunting in the mountains. Before they set out for the journey, the tribal elders put a blue cloth of skirt around the young men's waist, symbolizing the upgrade of their social status. In accordance of the government regulations, they hunt mainly marmots nowadays. During the time of men's hunting, women stay in the village and prepare garlands, food, drinks, and the triumph gate to welcome the returning men and the coming of the Harvest Festival.

      After the return of the hunting troupe, the Harvest Festival will be held to celebrate the triumphant return. The villagers sing and dance around a campfire, sharing roasted meat, betel nuts, and millet wine. The Festival offers residents a time for recreation and for solidifying their fellowship.

Pierce the monkeys

Monkey Ritual