How do you celebrate February 2nd in the north? I just arrived at a relative’s house in a community next to Harbin Modern Men’s Department. I heard about eating pig heads on February 2nd.

The second day of February when the dragon raises its head is a traditional festival in my country. For thousands of years, Chinese people have regarded the dragon as a mysterious mascot. Therefore, the second day of February when the dragon raises its head has naturally become a festival that the people attach great importance to. There are many customs and cultures on February 2, one of which is "eating pig head meat". So, do you know why pig head meat is eaten on February 2nd? What is the allusion to eating pig head meat on February 2nd?

Why pig head meat is eaten on February 2nd

In ancient times, pig head meat was Pay homage to ancestors and offer offerings to heaven. Northerners cook pig heads in every household on "February 2", the day when the dragon raises its head, because the first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year are over, and "February 2" is the last festival of the Spring Festival. Generally, farmers work hard for a year and kill pigs and sheep on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month to celebrate the Little New Year. Once the first lunar month is over, the pork killed in the twelfth lunar month is basically eaten up. Finally, there is only one pig head left, which can only be left on the second lunar month. Eat on the second day of the month.

On February 2nd, the dragon raises its head, all things on the earth begin to recover, and all animals and plants begin to raise their heads. The year must get off to a good start and usher in good weather. The Dragon King is in charge of rainfall. When he goes to the Heavenly Palace, the farmers will offer their best sacrifices to the Dragon King. There seems to be some truth in using pig heads as offerings to honor ancestors and offer them to heaven.

The allusion of eating pig head meat on February 2

There is a story recorded in the "Qiu Chi Notes" of the Song Dynasty: After Wang Zhongling pacified Bashu, he felt very hungry, so he broke into a In a small rural temple, he met a drunken monk. Wang Zhongling was furious and wanted to kill him, but the monk showed no fear at all. Wang Zhongling was very surprised and turned to him to beg for food. After a while, the monk offered him a plate. "Steamed pig head" and wrote a poem about it: "The mouth is long and hairy, short and shallow, and contains fat. It has been eating medicinal seedlings in the mountains for a long time. When steaming, it has been wrapped in banana leaves, and when cooked, it is also poured with apricot paddle. It is red and delicious, known as Jinpanting, and it is soft when cooked. It's really worthy of jade chopsticks. If the hairy roots come together, the felt roots can eat the rattan." Wang Zhongling ate the delicious steamed pig head and listened to the funny and unique "Pig Head Poetry". He was very happy, so he named the monk "Purple-clothed Master". . As the saying goes: "No one can find the temple door while carrying a pig's head." The truth is self-evident. Don't be discouraged if you don't find your talent. Sooner or later you will find someone who understands you and is willing to accept you. It seems that eating pig heads on February 2nd is an ancient tradition and a sign of good luck.

How to eat pork head meat on February 2nd

So how to eat pig head meat on February 2nd now? Think of the pot served by the monk that Wang Zhongling ate in the Song Dynasty Steaming pig's head and reading pig's head poems, that scene is history. Nowadays, "branching pig's face" is not ordinary. People prefer to use pig head meat to make other dishes, firstly for convenience, and secondly because after the Spring Festival, there are few complete pig heads at home.

The "braised pork face" has gone through twelve major stages of standardized production including material selection, cleaning, spray-roasting, soaking, and sauce making. It takes more than ten hours of practice before it can be served on the table. There are three ways to eat "braised pork face": one is to eat it as it is; the other is to dip it in sauce; and the third is to roll it into pancakes. Each way of eating has a different taste. Eat modern "braised pig face" on February 2nd and reminisce about five thousand years of catering history. This event is a perfect embodiment of the blend of contemporary and historical. "Braised pig face" is fat but not greasy, the meat and bones are separated, and it is glutinous and delicious. It has brought beauty and brain-building effects to modern people. What's even more gratifying is that the combination of contemporary high technology and market allows consumers to enjoy delicious "braised pig face" at home without going to a restaurant. This is exactly: February 2nd, the Spring Dragon Festival, the descendants of the dragon celebrate the Dragon Festival, and eat pig head meat on the Dragon Festival.

What are the traditional customs on February 2nd?

1. Worshiping the Dragon God

The second day of February is around the time of the Waking of Insects, when hundreds of insects sprout, diseases and pests are easy to occur. It is also the natural enemy of crops, so people attract dragons and swarm insects, hoping to use the power of dragons to subdue insects and protect humans and animals.

In most parts of northern my country, on this morning, every household carries a lantern and goes to the well or river to fetch water. When they return home, they light lamps, burn incense and offer offerings. In the old days, people called this ceremony "Yintianlong". Its purpose is to pray for widespread rainfall, elimination of insect pests, and abundant harvests.

2. Pen-opening Ceremony

In the old custom, children perform the pen-opening ceremony on February 2nd, indicating the beginning of formal learning. In the past, scholars had to perform four rituals, namely the opening ceremony, the advancement ceremony, the thanksgiving ceremony and the number one scholar ceremony. Among them, the opening ceremony is the first big gift in life. Starting a pen 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.

3. Shaving the dragon's head

The saying "shaving the dragon's head on February 2" is popular in most parts of the country. Today, there has always been a folk saying of "getting a haircut to remove the old hair". Haircuts for children are called "Shaving Xitou", which is auspicious when the dragon raises its head, so that the children can grow up healthily and become successful when they grow up; haircuts for adults are called "Shaving Dragon Heads" to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, hoping to bring good luck.

4. Naji

In addition to offering sacrifices to the Dragon God, folk often hold various activities to Naji, such as dragon dancing, wearing dragon tails, writing pens, etc. Dragon dance, when a good year comes, ordinary people will work together to make a grass dragon and go to the streets to celebrate with dragon dance on February 2nd, hoping that they will have another good harvest in the new year under the protection of the dragon.

5. Encircling the Cang

The second day of February is around the time of the Waking of Insects, when insects sprout, diseases are easy to occur, and insect pests are also the natural enemies of crops, so people lure the dragons to hide them in the hope of borrowing the dragons. Powerfully suppresses hundreds of insects, blesses humans and animals with safety and good harvests.

Eating customs in various places on February 2nd

1. Eating dragon scales

Folk food on February 2nd is mostly named after "dragon" For example, eating dumplings is called "eating dragon ears", eating rice is called "eating longzi", eating wontons is called "eating longan", eating noodles is called "eating dragon whiskers", and steamed cakes are also made into dragon scales on the surface. It is called "Dragon Scale Cake". These customs express people's best wishes to pray to the dragon for blessings, good weather and abundant harvests.

2. Waist-supporting cakes

On the second day of the second lunar month, people in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province have the custom of eating "waist-supporting cakes". Citizens come to pastry shops to buy "waist-supporting cakes" in anticipation. May you be safe and healthy throughout the year. ?

3. Fried beans

Many places still have the custom of frying and eating beans on that day. "Eating beans on the second day of the second lunar month will ensure a bumper harvest without getting sick." Eating all kinds of fried beans means that the year is complete and a year of hard work has begun again.