The custom of going to the grave on June 6 in Weifang, Shandong Province

The sixth day of the sixth lunar month is an ordinary day, but our ancestors have a special liking for "June 6", which has derived a lot of interesting content for this day.

In many parts of our country, "June 6th" is called a "God-given festival". According to legend, after 81 difficulties, Tang Priest finally got the Buddhist scriptures, but he accidentally dropped them into the sea on his way home, so Tang Priest had to fish them out and dry them. Originally, this was just a legend, but the ancients believed that the day when Tang Yan basked in the scriptures was the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, and accordingly named this day "".

"Tianci Festival" refers to this day's "Tianci Buddhist sentient beings".

Interestingly, the "God-given Festival" later developed into the "Book Printing Festival". Shen Ming Telford's "Night Fire Series" contains: "On June 6, the Imperial Imperial Imperial Imperial Imperial edict was revealed, which is an annual event." June 6th is the hottest time of the year. The Forbidden City took this opportunity to cool all kinds of books and documents, which influenced people for a long time year after year. People followed suit, so it became a custom to "uncover books, clothes and fur" on this day. This habit was so heavy in ancient times that even the statues of temple gods had to be reshaped and put on "new robes" on this day, which was called "hanging robes".

People also say that June 6th is the birthday of cats and dogs, so cats and dogs should be caught in the river to take a bath to prevent heatstroke. Because this day is a cat and dog bath day, people must avoid it. To this end, there is a joke circulating: in ancient times, a man named An went to visit his friend Yang Nanfeng, and it happened that Yang was taking a bath and couldn't see Mao. Mao felt left out, so he did the same. When Yang came to visit, he also refused to see him on the grounds of taking a bath. Yang felt funny, so he left a jingle for Mao: "You come to worship me, I take a bath, and I come to worship Jun Jun. You worship me on April 8 and I worship you on June 6. " Taunt Mao.

China has a vast territory, and the customs of June 6th vary from place to place. June 6th is a special day for Hunan people to bathe in ancient customs. On this day, they take a bath and wash their hair, thinking that this can make their skin clean and their hair not greasy all year round. Jiangsu folks called June 6th the "Sutra Turning Meeting", which was the day when the temple exposed the Tibetan scriptures and the monks called the old ladies in the village to turn over the scriptures, saying that "turning over the scriptures ten times can make you turn over for a lifetime". In Shanghai, tailors from all over the city gathered at the Town God Temple to dry robes for the Town God. Counties in northern Jiangsu steamed bacon elbows and bought fruit bonuses as gifts for married women. In some areas in the north, it is a custom to prepare new fruits and vegetables for ancestor worship during the day and at night. Yao people say that June 6th is the birthday of Father Land. At that time, every household would kill pigs and sheep to sacrifice to the land god, and put up couplets, set off firecrackers, sing and dance, just like the New Year. Therefore, the Yao people have the proverb "June is six and a half years".

On June 6, some places still pay attention to food. A Jiangsu proverb says, "On June 6th, eat crumbs and gain meat", thinking that eating pasta made of wheat flour, sugar and oil can make me gain meat. Between Jianghuai and Anhui, bacon is eaten every day, which is said to prevent diseases; Shanghai residents have the habit of cooking wonton on this day, thinking that eating it can avoid dysentery in summer; It is a custom in Yunnan to kill pigs and sheep to sacrifice to the land temple god on June 6, and then eat these sacrifices. It is believed that this will make "the earth will not open its mouth, the tiger will not eat people" and the livestock will be safe from wolves.

In some places, June 6th is the day when women return to their parents' homes. It is said that this custom began in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It is said that Hu Yan, the minister of the State of Jin, was arrogant, which made her in-laws Zhao fail. One year, the state of Jin suffered a disaster, and Hu Yan was ordered to release grain. The son-in-law decided to kill Hu Yan while he was away on June 6 to avenge his father. After the daughter learned, she rushed back to her family to report the case. When Hu Yan came back from releasing grain, he knew that he had done something wrong, and he didn't blame his son-in-law. Later, on the sixth day of June, Hu Yan will bring her daughter and son-in-law to the reunion. The news spread and people followed suit, forming a holiday custom. On this day, every family should invite the married girl back and treat her warmly, commonly known as "June 6, please aunt."

It is said that the original intention of China's wine order "June 6th" comes from the above-mentioned custom of "inviting aunts": As June 6th is in a changeable season, families with daughters will pray for good weather and let their daughters go home smoothly on this day. After a long time, people's homesickness is reflected in the wine list.