China’s Baobao Festival: parents pursue strangers in parks to find godfathers for their children

The festival attracts large crowds of parents, matchmakers and potential godfathers. Photo: Baidu

• 300-year-old custom began during Qing dynasty and continues today, parents seek out godfathers at crowded event with help of matchmakers

A traditional Chinese custom known as la bao bao in which people visit parks to find strangers to be godfathers for their children is believed to bring good health and has been popular for centuries.

The tradition which is prevalent in Guanghan, Sichuan province in southwestern China, is known as the Baobao Festival and is usually held on the 16th day of the first lunar month. Bao bao means godfather in Sichuan's dialect.

Here the Post takes a closer look at the custom.

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Origins

The 300-year-old custom dates back to the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and evolved from the tradition of "roaming to cure all illnesses".

After celebrating the Lantern Festival which is on the fifth day of the first lunar month, people would dress in festive attire and go out for the day.

The belief was that "roaming around" would ward off illnesses and bring good luck and prosperity.

Legend has it that during one such outing, a mother and daughter encountered some ruffians who tried to harass the daughter.

The harassment continued until they reached the magistrate's office at which point the mother declared: "My daughter is going to see her godfather at the magistrate's office. Why are you still following us?"

The magistrate claimed the girl was his goddaughter and ruffians fled.

The story led people to begin finding godfathers during their spring outings, which gradually developed into the custom.

Finding a godfather?

Since 1985, the festival has become an annual cultural event, attracting people who are eager to find or become a godfather.

Typically, children seeking godfathers are under 10 years old.

Adults hoping to become godfathers dress impressively, aiming to appear fortunate to enhance their chances of being chosen.

During the festival, facilitators mingle with the crowd with a child's "piglet hat", placing it on the head of a potential godfather when they find someone suitable and introducing him to the child's parents.

Once the parents approve, they hand their child to the chosen person, who then lifts the child, symbolising the establishment of the godfather relationship.

Next, they visit a fortune teller to match their birth dates and formalise the relationship.

Local customs dictate that godfathers cannot volunteer and must be chosen, often with the help of relatives and friends or other attendees and facilitators.

Middle-aged men who appear well-off are particularly sought after.

The crowd can sometimes burst into laughter when a man is jokingly "forced" by strangers to become a godfather.

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