Introduction to the customs and activities in various regions during the Dragon Raising Festival on February 2, 2021
February 2nd, the Dragon Raises its Head, is a traditional Chinese festival with many folk customs. China is a vast country with different folk activities in every place. Now let’s take a look at the customs and activities of various regions on February 2nd, the Dragon Raises its Head in 2021.Introduction to the customs and activities in various regions during the Dragon Raising Festival on February 2, 20211. Shandong: Spreading ashes to attract dragons, beating ashes, shaving dragon heads, eating beans, making pancakes, and dancing dragon lanternsIn some rural areas of Shandong Province in my country, there is a custom of "scattering ashes to attract dragons" and "beating the ash pile" on this day. On this day, when it was still dawn, every household started spreading ashes. They would use a dustpan to hold wood ash and spread it densely along the outer wall of their house. Because the ash line was thin and long, and shaped like the legendary dragon, this action was called "spreading ashes to attract the dragon", which meant inviting the dragon, a symbol of good luck, into the home. In addition, every household would use wood ash to form circles in front of the door and in the yard, and place grains and coins in the middle. It represents food storage and money storage. Some storages have ladders drawn outside to show how tall the storage is. While drawing circles with ash, he would mutter to himself, "On the second day of the second month, beat the winnowing basket, the big granary will be full and the small granary will overflow", hoping that the family would have a good harvest and a lot of money in the coming year. On the second day of the second lunar month, the most important folk custom is "shaving the dragon's head". No matter whether it is the old or the young, everyone will cut their hair and trim their faces to make themselves look brand new, which indicates that they can pray for good luck for the whole year. From early morning, some barbershops are crowded with customers coming and going, and the barbers are busy. The reason why many people choose to cut their hair on this day is because there is a folk custom that it is unlucky to shave your head in the first month of the lunar year, so many people generally cut their hair once before the New Year and then wait until the second day of the second month to "cut the old hair." On the second day of the second lunar month, according to Shandong's traditional customs, people eat fried soybeans and fried bean pods, and there is also the custom of making pancakes. Pray for a good harvest this year. Many places also have activities such as dragon dancing to pray for blessings. 2. Beijing: Eat spring pancakes, donkey rolls, shine on the beams, and drive away insects Since February 2nd is the day when the dragon raises its head, many foods are associated with the dragon. Beijing folk food, a kind of very thin pancake, also known as pancake. Noodles, dumplings, etc. are also popular in the northern region. Every year on the beginning of spring, Beijingers eat spring pancakes, which are called "Yaochun". On the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, Beijingers also eat spring rolls, which is called "eating dragon scales". Spring rolls are larger than the pancakes used for roast duck, and are tougher (Beijingers call this "bone-standing strength") because they are made to wrap a lot of vegetables. In the past, when eating spring rolls, people would go to a box shop and order "Su Pan" (also known as box dish). When eating spring rolls, the whole family sits together, puts the baked spring rolls in the steamer, and takes them out as they eat, so that they can eat them while they are hot. If spring pancakes are eaten on the second day of the second lunar month, Beijingers also insist on bringing married girls home to eat spring pancakes. According to the old Beijing custom, people like to buy and taste "Ludagun" on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar. Donkey rolls made of soybean flour and red bean paste have a round shape, which symbolizes "money rolling in". There is a folk saying in Beijing that goes, "On the second day of the second month, shine the light on the beams and scorpions and centipedes will have nowhere to hide." People have to drive away pests on this day. They light candles and shine the light on the beams and walls to drive away scorpions, centipedes, etc. When these insects see the light, they fall down and are killed. The custom of expelling insects on the day of Dragon Raising its Head is mainly popular in northern my country. On the second day of the second month, various insects including poisonous insects begin to become active. In order to avoid harm from poisonous insects, people hold some activities that have the meaning of repelling insects. For example, you can use sticks, brooms or shoes to knock on beams, walls, doors, beds, etc. to avoid snakes, scorpions, centipedes, rats and other insects. Usually people also recite songs, such as "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head, scorpions and centipedes do not show their heads." (Tianjin). 3. Shaanxi: Stir-fried beans In Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, it is common for the grandmother (uncle) to give popcorn and steamed buns to the nephew (daughter) on this day. My mother would fry the beans the day before and prepare them for the family. Qizi beans are made by mixing oil, water and flour, then cut into small cubes and fried in oil. In some places, peanuts and beans are fried together. 4. Hebei: Picking dragon eggs In Hebei Province, there is a custom of getting up early in the morning to pick up dragon eggs in rural areas. Before daybreak, the man of the house draws water from the village well with a bucket. It is said that there will be dragon eggs in the well on February 2. People carry them back home to pray for good weather and good luck. 5. Handan: Eat "dragon beard noodles", "dragon ears", "dragon horns" (dumplings), "dragon seeds" (rice), "dragon beads" (chaotic noodles), and "dragon head" (pig head). On the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, girls in the mountain villages near Cizhou have the custom of celebrating the Qiqiao Festival. On this day, girls can travel in groups freely, put on good clothes, bring millet, flour, oil, salt, as well as pots, bowls, basins, spoons and other tools, and go up the mountain for a picnic together. This is the custom of "girls eating begging rice on the second day of the second month" handed down from ancient times in Cizhou. 6. Coastal areas: worshipping the God of Land and offering pork as sacrifice In the south, the custom of worshiping the dragon on the second day of the second month is mainly based on the custom of offering sacrifices to the god of land, and the custom of worshiping the dragon is mainly held during the Dragon Boat Festival in midsummer when the dragon ascends to heaven. In Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other regions, there are new "February 2" customs that are similar to the Dragon Raising Head Festival and are based on community worship customs. Because "the earth carries all things" and "gathers wealth on the earth", the land god is widely worshipped in southern my country. The land god is also called "she", "she god", "soil god", "land god", and "Fude Zhengshen". The Hakka people call him "Tudi Bogong". "February 2" (in ancient times, the Spring Festival was the fifth Wu day after the beginning of spring, and the Autumn Festival was the fifth Wu day after the beginning of autumn) The main purpose of the Festival is to worship the land and gather together for drinking, to honor and entertain the gods and entertain people. Since ancient times, community gods have become the gods of rituals in the sacrificial system. To this day, the ancient "community gods" have undergone many changes, but the custom of worshiping the land god has been preserved. With the migration of Chinese people, it has also flourished and taken root in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. The sacrificial meat was distributed, people gathered to feast, and music was played for entertainment. As a custom for people to gather together for festivals, community sacrifices are also performed on the day of the Dragon Raising its Head. The Guangzhou Prefecture Records quoted the Panyu Records as saying: "On the second day of the second month, there is a land god meeting. All government offices, big and small, and alleys in the streets and alleys will call on opera troupes to play music to entertain the gods." The grand occasion of the sacrifice to the gods in the past and the joyful scenes of people gathering together for banquets can be seen in these records. |
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