What are the customs of the Dragon Head Festival? What is the significance of the Dragon Head Festival?

In many areas, we will get a haircut on the second day of February. It also means shaving the old and welcoming the new. The customs and meanings vary from region to region. Let’s take a look at what is happening on February 2. custom.

What are the customs and significance of the Dragon Head Festival?

February 2, commonly known as the Dragon Head Raised, also known as the Qinglong Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival. According to legend, it is the day Emperor Xuanyuan was born.

February 2 is a day to pray for good weather and a good harvest. Eating noodles is called "picking the dragon head", eating fried cakes is called "eating gentian", eating pancakes is called "peeping the dragon skin", and eating twists is called "gnawing the dragon bones", which is a sign of good luck.

February 2 is the day when a daughter-in-law returns to her parents’ home. According to old customs, a daughter-in-law must live in her husband's house during the first month, and is not allowed to return to her parents' house until after the first month.

February 2 is also a day to pray for academic success. In the past, private school teachers usually accepted students on this day, which was called "taking the lead". Students will also chant: "On February 2, the dragon raises its head. If the dragon does not raise its head, I will raise its head." February 2 is the Outing Festival. Bai Juyi once wrote in a poem: On February 2nd, it rains and clears, and grass sprouts sprout for a while. It is a good time for an outing.

On February 2, the dragon raises its head. February 2 is usually after the Waking of Insects, when everything revives and insects are active. People expect the dragon to drive away the pests and keep them sufficient.

February 2, shave the dragon head. Cutting your hair on February 2 means cutting your hair to create a new look, getting rid of old things, and bringing good luck.

On February 2, a celebration ceremony will be held on the day of Dragon Head Festival. It is customary to hold a celebration ceremony during the Dragon Head Festival, including dragon dance performances to pray for good weather.

On February 2, plant ashes are spread on Dragon Head Festival. It is customary to take some plant ashes and scatter them in front of the door, in the corner, beside the well and other places on the Dragon Head Festival. This practice has been around for a long time.

On February 2, pig head meat is eaten during the Dragon Head Festival. Customs include food-related content. On the Dragon Head Festival, pig head meat is generally eaten.

On February 2, Dragon Head Festival, go to Tutu Temple to burn incense. It is customary to go to Tutu Temple to burn incense and set off firecrackers on the Dragon Head Festival, which symbolizes good luck.

On February 2nd, eat beans. "Eat beans on February 2, and you will have a good harvest without getting sick."

On February 2nd, every family picked up their daughter. On this day, my mother gets up early in the morning and will be busy picking vegetables, mixing stuffing, and making dumplings to entertain her daughter who returns to her parents' home.

What does the Dragon Head Festival mean?

In the past, the Dragon Head Festival was a day to worship the Dragon God. On this day every year, people would go to the Dragon Temple or the waterside to burn incense and offer sacrifices. Offer sacrifices to the Dragon God and pray to the Dragon God to make clouds turn into rain and bless you with a good harvest throughout the year. However, in many areas, especially in the south, people also regard the second day of February as the "Day of the God of the Earth" and hold community sacrifices to worship the God of the Earth.

The second day of the second lunar month in the lunar calendar is when the dragon raises its head. It is commonly known as the Qinglong Festival. Legend has it that it is the day when the dragon raises its head. It is the first Fuxi period in our country. The Fuxi family "focuses on farming, mulberry trees, and plowing the fields." On February 2 every year, "the emperor's wife delivers food, and the imperial chariot plows the land herself." They take care of one-third of an acre of land. Later, Huang Di, Tang Yao, Yu Shun, and Xia Yu all followed the example of their ancestors. King Wu of Zhou not only followed this traditional practice, but also implemented it as an important national policy. On the second day of February, a major ceremony was held to allow all civil and military officials to cultivate one-third of an acre of land. This is the historical legend of the Dragon Head Festival.

About February 2 and its meaning

February 2, the dragon raises its head (lunar calendar), is already a very light festival. The relevant customs have long since fallen into disuse, and many people may not even have a clear idea of ??what this festival is. It is not surprising that the most lively Spring Festival is still deserted today. Of course, it is not ruled out that some places still retain relevant customs, but it is undoubtedly very simple.

This festival, also known as the Spring Plowing Festival and Farming Festival, is closely related to agriculture. In fact, the Dragon’s Head Raises means the end of hibernation, the growth of yang energy, the increase of rain, the prosperity of all things, and a good year. Spring has arrived, and it’s time to get busy with farming and sowing. Therefore, this day has been given the meaning of welcoming Najib.

The name "dragon raising its head" refers to ancient celestial phenomena. The "dragon" in it does not actually refer to the legendary beast, but to the Eastern Blue Dragon among the twenty-eight constellations. Observing earth affairs through celestial phenomena is the epistemology of the ancients. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, there were activities related to February 2, but there was no explanation of the dragon raising its head.

On February 2, the festival of dragon raising its head began in the Yuan Dynasty. and became a national holiday. Customs are lively and diverse in various places, and they are not the same. In some places in the south, such as Guangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong, because February 2 is similar to worshiping the earth god, the festival is often not very interesting. "On February 2, worship the village community; the dragon raises its head to pray for a good harvest" is a widely circulated proverb. Dragon dancing in the streets is the most common form of celebration on February 2nd.

For Najib’s sake, the food eaten on February 2 is also related to the “dragon”. For example, dumplings are called "dragon ears" and "dragon horns"; noodles are called "dragon beard noodles"; noodles and wontons cooked together are called "long nazhu", etc. There are also many taboos. For example, you should avoid carrying water for fear of disturbing the dragon on the river bank and causing drought. For example, you should avoid needlework for fear of hurting the longan, etc.