What are the customs of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2?
There are numerous folk customs and traditional festivals in our country. Dragon Raising its Head is one of them. Dragon Raising its Head (February 2) is also known as the "Spring Farming Festival", "Farming Festival" and "Spring Dragon Festival". It is a traditional Chinese folk festival. Spring is a season of vitality and revival, but the weather changes greatly. Fortune Teller Network has summarized the festivals and solar terms in February of the lunar calendar in 2018. You are welcome to check it out!ShrineIn the south, the custom of worshipping the community is still followed on the "February 2nd" day, such as in Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other regions; in addition, a new "February 2nd" custom has been formed that is similar to the Dragon Head-raising Festival but is based on the custom of worshipping the community, such as in the Hakka area of Guidong.The land god was called "She" or "Sheshen" in ancient times. Legend has it that he is the god who manages the land. Because "the earth carries all things" and "wealth is gathered on the earth", humans have developed a worship of the land. After entering the agricultural society, people began to associate belief in the land with the harvest of crops. The land god is widely worshipped in southern my country, also known as the "soil god" or the "God of Fortune and Fortune". The Hakka people call him "Tudi Bogong". The customs of the "February 2" community day are rich in content. The main activities are offering sacrifices to the land and gathering together for drinking, which is a way of honoring and entertaining gods and entertaining people. Lead the DragonIn Shanxi, the most important custom is "attracting the dragon", which is called "Si Qian Long" in northwest Shanxi. On the morning of February 2 before the sun rises, every household has to carry buckets to the river or well to fetch water. When drawing water, put copper coins in the bucket. After fetching water, sprinkle it while walking. When you get home, pour the remaining water into the water tank, so as to lead the "money dragon" back. Do not speak when attracting the money dragon, so as not to scare it away.Eat Dragon FoodThere are certain dietary requirements on February 2, and most of the food on this day is named after dragons. Eating spring rolls is called "eating dragon scales", eating noodles is called "holding dragon whiskers", eating rice is called "eating dragon eggs", eating wontons is called "eating dragon eyes", and eating dumplings is called "eating dragon ears". All of this is to awaken the Dragon King and pray for him to bless the year with good weather and a good harvest.Of course, different regions have different foods, but eating spring rolls is a universal custom. It is recorded in the Ming Dynasty book "Zhuo Zhong Zhi": "On the second day of February, each family uses millet flour and date cakes, fried in oil, or white flour and thin spread into pancakes, called 'fumigation of insects'." HaircutOn the second day of the second month, the barber shop is particularly busy. Everyone has to get a haircut on this day. There is a saying among the people that "don't get a haircut in the first month of the lunar year". Many people will not get their hair cut again for a month after getting it cut in the twelfth month, but will wait until the second day of the second month.Why do people get a haircut on the second day of the second month? Legend has it that shaving your head on this day will bring good luck and fortune, so the proverb says "Shaving your head on the second day of the second month will bring you good luck for the whole year." It seems that getting a haircut on this day will bring good luck and smooth sailing for the whole year. Pick up the girlAnother important custom on February 2 is to pick up the "girl", that is, the girl's family takes back her married daughter, so there is a saying "February 2, bring the girl back". People in northern Jiangsu have many etiquettes. Among them, a "girl" cannot live in her parents' home during the first month of the lunar year. After visiting her parents' home to pay New Year's greetings on the second day of the lunar year, she must return to her husband's home on the same day. But on the second day of the second month, her parents would come to take their daughter back to stay for a few days. First, she had been busy for a long time in the first month of the year and was quite tired, so they wanted to take her back to her parents' home to have a good rest; second, the new year had just begun and they would be busy again, so they wanted to reward her.During the days after being brought back, the "girl" spent her time eating and drinking, visiting friends and chatting, and her life was relaxed and happy. While city dwellers "bring a girl" means bringing back the girl and her son-in-law for a sumptuous lunch together. This custom is also very popular in Beijing and most areas in northern my country, and many areas have continued to this day. In eastern Henan, on the morning of the second day of the second lunar month, every family will use the ashes in the furnace to build a granary in the yard and outside the gate. That is, they put wood ash on a long-handled iron shovel and scatter it into a circle, and then put different grains in the center of the circle. This is actually a farmer's wish for a good harvest. Can't do needleworkWomen are not allowed to do needlework on this day, because the Azure Dragon will raise its head to watch the world, and using needles may prick the dragon's eyes. Before getting up, women would first recite "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head. If the dragon doesn't raise its head, I will." After getting up, people would hold a lantern and shine it on the beams, reciting "On the second day of the second month, shine it on the beams, and scorpions and centipedes will have nowhere to hide." In some places, women stopped washing clothes for fear of damaging the dragon's skin, etc. |
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