What are the customs of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2? What is the historical development of the Dragon Raising its Head?
I believe many people know about the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2nd. As a traditional festival in my country, February 2nd was not associated with the Dragon Raising its Head from the beginning. It has a history of development. So let’s learn about the customs of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2nd. What is the historical development of the Dragon Raising its Head?What are the customs of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2?1. Shaving dragon head"If you shave your head on the second day of the second lunar month, you will have a good spirit for the whole year." Chinese people generally believe that shaving your head on this day will bring good luck and fortune. "On this day of the second lunar month, every barber shop is crowded with customers and business is booming. 2. Eat "Dragon Food" The ancients believed that on February 2nd, the dragon would be very powerful, so the food on this day had to be named after the dragon. Eating spring rolls is called "eating dragon scales", eating noodles is called "supporting dragon whiskers", eating rice is called "eating dragon seeds", eating wontons is called "eating dragon eyes", and eating dumplings is called "eating dragon ears". 3. Worship the Dragon God In the past, in most parts of northern my country, every household would carry lanterns to the well or river to fetch water in the morning on this day. When they returned home, they would light lamps, burn incense, and offer sacrifices. In the old days, people called this ceremony "Yintianlong". The purpose is to pray for abundant rain, eliminate pests and ensure a good harvest. 4. Release the Dragon Lantern There is also a custom of "releasing dragon lanterns" in the Yellow River Delta and some riverside areas. Many families made small boats out of reeds or sorghum stalks, inserted candles or placed small oil bowls made from radishes on them, and then put them in the river or bay at dusk and lit them to light the way for the dragon. This is a way to entertain and convey good wishes at the same time. 5. Festival In the south, the custom of worshiping the community is still followed on the second day of the second month. For example, in Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other regions, there are new customs of the second day of the second month that are similar to the customs of the Dragon Raising Head Festival, but are also based on the custom of worshiping the community. Because "the earth carries all things" and "gathers wealth on the earth", the land god is widely worshipped in southern my country. He is also called "she", "she god", "soil god" and "Fude Zhengshen". The Hakka people call him "Tudi Bogong". The main purpose of the community day on February 2 is to worship the land and gather the community for drinking, to entertain the gods and to entertain the people. What is the historical development of the Dragon Raising its Head?Tang DynastyThere is still no record of the custom of Dragon Raising its Head during the Tang Dynasty. People in the Tang Dynasty regarded the first day of February as a special day, saying it was a day to "welcome wealth and honor". On this day, they would eat "fruits to welcome wealth and honor", which means eating some snack foods. According to the "Book of Tang", before the middle of the Tang Dynasty, there were only three festivals in spring: the ninth day of the first lunar month, the last day of the first lunar month (the 30th day) and the Shangsi Festival in the third lunar month. There was no festival in February. Li Mi wrote a letter to the emperor to abolish the last day of the first lunar month and make the first day of February the Zhonghe Festival (meaning moderation and peace) to show people's focus on basics. Dezong agreed very much and ordered that the ninth day of the first lunar month, the first day of the second lunar month and the third lunar month be collectively known as the Three Festivals. The historical development of the Dragon Raising its Head Song Dynasty During the Song Dynasty, there was a royal banquet on the second day of the second lunar month, but it had nothing to do with the dragon. Zhou Mi, a Song Dynasty writer, recorded in "Wulin Jiushi" that on the second day of the second month of the Southern Song Dynasty, there was a royal banquet in the palace. At the banquet, fresh vegetables such as lettuce were planted in some small hu (a measuring vessel with a small mouth and a large bottom). Their names were written on silk and placed under the hu for everyone to guess. There are rewards and punishments based on the results of the guesses. This activity was both a way to "try something new" and entertaining, so "many royal palaces and noble houses also followed suit" at that time. These "February 2" activities during the Tang and Song dynasties were not associated with "Dragon Raising its Head". Yuan Dynasty During the Yuan Dynasty, February 2 was clearly defined as the day when the dragon raises its head. When describing the customs of the capital city, Xijing Zhi mentioned that "the second day of the second month is called the Dragon Raising its Head". On this day, people like to eat noodles, which are called "dragon beard noodles"; they also eat pancakes, which are called "dragon scales"; if they make dumplings, they are called "dragon teeth". In short, all the food we eat must be named after parts of the dragon's body. The historical development of the Dragon Raising its Head Ming Dynasty After the Ming Dynasty, there were many customs related to the dragon raising its head on "February 2", such as spreading ashes to attract dragons, supporting dragons, fumigating insects to avoid scorpions, shaving the dragon's head, and avoiding acupuncture in longan, so it was called the Dragon Raising its Head Day. In the Suihua Jilipu written by Yuan Fei, it is recorded: "On February 2nd, the Outing Festival, the people of Ren County go out to enjoy the scenery in the surrounding areas." Wang Hao's "Guang Qunfangpu Tianshipu" quotes "Han Mo Ji": "According to the custom in Luoyang, February 2 is the Flower Festival, and it is also the Vegetable Picking Festival for scholars and common people to go out for fun." During the Ming Dynasty, the activities of "fumigating insects" and "frying beans" were added to February 2. In the Ming Dynasty’s “A Brief Account of the Scenery of the Imperial Capital” it is said: “On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head. People fumigate beds and kangs to ward off dragons and insects. |
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