Check out the nine traditional customs of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2

Check out the nine traditional customs of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2
  • Introduction: Do you know what day the Dragon Raises its Head on February 2? This is a good day, why? Because "the dragon raises its head" means the end of hibernation, the revival of all things, and the revival of one's head and chest. Therefore, since ancient times, people have regarded February 2 as a day to bid farewell to the old and usher in the new, and to bring good luck. So what are the traditional folk customs on this day? Let’s take a look together! During the first month of the lunar calendar, you will have a good year. The first month is the most important month of spring. Mr. Shui Mo will share with you some knowledge about January.

1. The first auspicious day: gathering dragon energy

In the morning at Mao time (between 5 and 7 o'clock), which is the Mao time on the Mao day of the Mao month, go out, face the east, take six deep breaths, meditate on a ball of green air descending from the Baihui point on the top of the head to the Dantian, filling the internal organs, and wrapping the whole body with the whole ball of green air, then walk a hundred steps towards the east. Xuanxuzi reminds you that you should smile and greet pedestrians you meet on the road, which can attract wealth and good luck. This is the most auspicious sign.

2. Second Lucky Number: Shaving the Dragon Head

The second day of the second lunar month is the day when the hibernating dragon ascends to heaven. People believe that shaving one's head on this day will bring good luck and fortune. A haircut for children is called a "happy head" and it takes advantage of the auspicious time when the dragon raises its head to bless the children to grow up healthily and become successful when they grow up; a haircut for adults means bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, hoping to bring good omens and good luck. Therefore, the proverb says, "If you shave the dragon's head on the second day of the second month, you will have a good spirit throughout the year." On this day, every barber shop is crowded with customers and business is booming. In addition, there is a saying among the people that "cutting your hair in the first month of the lunar year will cause your uncle to die", so many people do not go to the barber shop in the twelfth month of the lunar year, and the ban is not lifted until the second day of the second month. On the second day of the second lunar month, every barber shop is crowded with customers and business is booming. According to textual research, the reason why people do not shave their heads in the first month of the lunar year is to express their longing for the past. The first month of the year is the beginning of the year, like the morning of a day. People don't shave their heads for one month in the first lunar month to commemorate the tradition. The idea of ​​"missing the old times" has been used for so long that it was mistakenly translated as "dead uncle".

3. The third auspicious day: eating dragon food

On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head, so naturally we have to eat some traditional dragon-related food, a meal with auspicious meanings, to make a good start for the new year! There are certain dietary requirements on this day, because people believe in the "power of dragons", so most of the food on this day is named after dragons. Eating spring pancakes 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", eating dumplings is called "eating dragon ears", cooking noodles and wontons together is called "dragon holding beads", eating pig heads is called "eating dragon heads", and eating scallion pancakes is called "tearing dragon skin". There is also a custom of "eating pig heads when the dragon raises its head" on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar. People are buying pig heads in hopes of a good omen for the new year. These customs embody people’s good wishes to pray for the dragon’s blessing, good weather, and a good harvest.

4. The fourth auspicious day: releasing dragon lanterns

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 The Fifth Auspicious Day: Besieging the Granary

On the morning of the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, villagers in many parts of the north get up early. Housewives take a basket of wood ash from under their stoves, take a small iron shovel to scoop some ash, walk and shake the shovel, and draw circles on the ground. The circles of the enclosure are big inside small, with at least three and at most five, and they surround odd numbers but not even numbers. After the granary is enclosed, the family’s grain is reverently placed in the middle of the granary and intentionally scattered around the outside of the granary, symbolizing a good harvest that year.

6. The Sixth Auspicious Day: Offering Sacrifice to the Community

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.

7 The Seventh Auspicious Day: Opening Ceremony

The third day of February is the birthday of Wenchang, the god who dominates fame and honor. On this day, scholars worship Wenchang and pray for success in the imperial examinations. On this day, they worship Wenchang and ask him to bless their children to succeed in their studies and pass the imperial examinations. According to the old custom, children would perform a ceremony to start writing on the second day of the second lunar month, marking the beginning of their formal studies. In the past, scholars had to perform four ceremonies, namely the ceremony of opening a pen, the ceremony of advancement, the ceremony of thanksgiving and the ceremony of becoming the top scholar. Among them, the ceremony of opening a pen is the first major ceremony in life. Kaibi means starting to write an article. The ceremony mainly includes worshiping the statue of Confucius, teaching the most basic principles of life, and presenting the four treasures of the study. Now many places have resumed this activity. On the other hand, many customs of February 2 are related to dragons, and starting school on this day also has the meaning of "wishing your son to become a dragon", implying that a good start can make it easier for children to succeed.

8 The eighth auspicious day: knock on the dragon head

In some parts of Northeast China, people use long poles to hit the roof beams on the morning of February 2, which is called "knocking the dragon's head." Wake up the dragon and bring peace to the area. Adults and children still recite: "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head, the big granaries are full, and the small granaries are overflowing." In some places, people use stove ash to spread big circles in the yard and put grains in the middle, which is called "beating the granary" or "filling the granary", wishing for a good harvest and full granaries that year.

9 The ninth auspicious day: the dragon that attracts money

The dragon governs water, and water brings wealth. In some areas, it is popular to "attract the money dragon" on the second day of the second lunar month. Of course, the methods of attracting it are slightly different. For example, some people put a few ancient coins or coins in a kettle, and then fetch a kettle of water from a well, flowing river or lake near their home. They sprinkle the water all the way back home and pour the water and coins in the kettle into a water tank, meaning that the dragon will follow the water to their home; some people use copper coins to pull a red line, take it home and put it in an urn; some people use coal ash as a guide. The editor suggests that you prepare 4 1 yuan coins, clean them and put them in the kettle, and drink a cup in the morning.
Summary: After reading the introduction in the above article, we know that February 2, the day when the dragon raises its head, is a very good day. We also know the nine traditional customs of February 2. You can learn more about them and feel the charm of traditional culture!

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