What is the meaning of the dragon raising its head? Are there any taboos during the Dragon Raising its Head?
After the Lantern Festival, the next day to be celebrated is the second day of February, which is a traditional festival in my country: the Dragon Raising its Head. There are many traditions and taboos about the Dragon Raising its Head. So let’s understand what the meaning of the Dragon Raising its Head is? Are there any taboos during the Dragon Raising its Head?What is the meaning of the dragon raising its head?The symbol of the dragon raising its head is growth and good luck.The Dragon Head Festival, also known as the "Dragon Raising its Head" or the "Green Dragon Festival", falls on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar (March 2, 2014) and is one of China's traditional festivals. According to folklore, this is the day when the Dragon King, who is in charge of clouds and rain, raises his head, which also means that there will be more rain after this day. Some people also believe that "the dragon raises its head" refers to the beginning of insects awakening in early spring: as the saying goes, "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head, and scorpions and centipedes all show their heads." Because ancient China was an agricultural country, people very much hoped to achieve the purpose of rain by praying to the dragon. At the same time, this day is also a traditional auspicious day for haircuts. Legends about the Dragon Raising its HeadLegend has it that Yao's father Emperor Ku (Emperor Jun) had four queens: Jiang Yuan, Jian Di, Qing Du, and Chang Yi. Originally, Chang Yi had the lowest status, but since she gave birth to a son, everyone looked at her differently. Qingdu has always been worried about not having a son. Someone told her that praying for a child at the Goddess Temple is very effective, and as long as you are sincere, there is nothing you can't achieve. Qingdu did as the witch said. After dinner on the Lantern Festival, he went to the temple to place offerings, then kowtowed three times respectfully, put his hands together, and prayed to the gods to give him a child. Let me explain this from two perspectives. One year there was a severe drought and the people lived in hardship. There was a red dragon in the sky. When he saw the miserable conditions of the people on earth, he felt pity and secretly made it rain. When the Jade Emperor found out about this, he suppressed the red dragon under a mountain. The people pleaded for the red dragon, and the Jade Emperor said, "Only if the golden beans bloom."On the second day of the second lunar month, an old lady came from somewhere and kept shouting, "Selling golden beans!" People were very puzzled and bought some golden beans home, and found out they were actually yellow soybeans. When these soybeans were fried in the pan, they crackled and bloomed. When the Jade Emperor found out, he had no choice but to release the red dragon and banish him to the mortal world. After Qingdu prayed for a child from the Goddess Temple, he looked forward to good news every day. One night, she dreamed of a red dragon following her, and from then on, she became pregnant. On the second day of the second month of the following year, there were lightning and thunder, and then the sun shone brightly. A golden light shone in the yard, and a child was born. He was named Fangxun, who later became Yao. What is the legend about the Dragon Raising its Head? Fangxun was smart and clever, and was loved since childhood. After he grew up to be an emperor, he would farm with the people on the second day of the second lunar month every year. The custom of emperors tilling the fields was thus passed down. During the Chinese New Year, the woodblock New Year picture sold at the market, "The Emperor Riding the Golden Bull", originated from this. There are many different opinions about the birth of King Yao. Later generations made up a story: Golden beans bloomed and the red dragon raised its head. On the second day of the second month, King Yao was happily born. Are there any taboos during the Dragon Raising its Head?1. Married daughters should not spend the second day of the second lunar month at their parents’ home.The reason why one cannot return to one's parents' home on the day of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2 is mainly because in ancient times, after a newly married bride, she could not live in her parents' home on the second day of February. The husband's family spread this saying in order to encourage the bride to return home as soon as possible. Later on, if the young daughter-in-law has been living in her parents' home, her husband's family will take her back home on the first day of the second lunar month. According to the customs of the old society, a newly married daughter-in-law had to serve her parents-in-law and husband at her husband's home before and after the New Year. After the 16th day of the first lunar month, she could temporarily return to her parents' home as a rest day, but could only stay until the end of the first lunar month. She had to go home after the first lunar month, because after the second day of the second lunar month it would be the spring ploughing season, and she had to go to the fields to work. 2. Avoid giving birth at your parents’ home Under the ancient social ideology of favoring boys over girls, the ancients believed that a daughter who was married off was like spilled water, and belonged to the man. When a woman gives birth, she will definitely bleed, and some lochia will be discharged from the body after delivery, so it was considered a very dirty thing by the ancients. For a woman to give birth at her parents' home is equivalent to bringing bad luck home, while the day of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2 is equivalent to bringing good luck home, which is in conflict with the other day, so women are not allowed to give birth at their parents' home. 3. No need for needles, threads or scissors In ancient my country, the dragon was regarded as a sacred symbol by the ancients. Therefore, there are more taboos on the day of "Dragon Title" to avoid harming the Canglong and affecting the luck for the whole year. Women are forbidden to use needles, thread, or scissors on this day, because the Azure Dragon will raise its head to look at the world on this day, and using anything with a needle or a sharp blade may hurt the dragon's eyes. When women get up, they usually say, "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head. If the dragon doesn't raise its head, I do." 4. Avoid saying "jealous" In the dialects of the Central Plains provinces of my country, "eating jealousy" is seen as having the meaning of "envy". On the second day of the second lunar month, because the festival itself is a festive occasion, people at that time were afraid that petty-mindedness would affect good luck, so they called "taboo" "vinegar", and using taboo means being jealous. 5. Avoid pushing the mill It is taboo to push the mill on this day to avoid pressing the faucet. People in Xinhe, Hebei and Tengxian, Shandong avoid grinding flour on the same day for fear of suppressing the dragon's head. In the Dongming area of Shandong, people have to clean the mills in the afternoon of the first day of February. Lift up the upper and lower fans of the mill and do not use it. Because the locals believe that the stone mill is a dragon head, the dragon head must be lifted up during the Dragon Head Festival. Even today, although stone mills are no longer used to grind flour, to this day. All noodle-making machines had to stop operating for fear of "grinding the dragon head to pieces". |
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