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Group activity is very important among the young people of the De'ang ethnic group.According to tradition,the young boys and girls who reach the age of fourteen are entitled to take part in social activities and join the association of young people of their own village.A young man and a woman are respectively selected as the heads of the two associations.They are considered to be prominent people either in appearance or in ability,and are usually those judged best suited to take some part in public affairs.Their main responsibility is to organize and oversee the social activities in which unmarried lads and girls can meet and interact.Such occasions include religious ceremonies,festivals,wedding and funeral ceremonies.The place where the young people assemble is decided by the head.Usually this means the village hall or other public space.Once any of the two heads gets married,another young person will be chosen to replace him/her.Public festivals or weddings are seen by unmarried members of the De'ang community as excellent opportunities for social intercourse and meeting members of the opposite sex.Antiphonal songs are sung and the magic of wooing begins.If a lad takes a fancy to a girl,he will go to the girl's bamboo building in the still of night,carrying his gourd pipe or mouth organ.Then he will call the girl with his melodious tones and soft songs.If the girl is touched by such declarations of interest,she will get up,kindle the fire,boil a cup of tea and open the gate to invite the lad in to chat with her around the fire pot.She pours tea and hands him cigarettes.On seeing this scene,the other family members just go into their bedrooms,giving the young people the space and privacy to whisper their sweet words of love.
