The Unique Style of Rinan Island in Putian

Putian Rinan Island has a unique geographical position, and is the third largest island in Fujian Province. It is also called a sister island with the famous Meizhou Island. The island is not only rich in famous aquatic products, but also rich in granite reserves, and the local customs are also worth seeing. Then let Lao Huangli introduce you to the special customs of Rinan Island in Putian.

On New Year's Eve in Hinan Island, firecrackers are essential. From the beginning of the day, every household was brightly lit, firecrackers came and went, and every household prepared sacrifices. Sacrifices are very rich, including flowers, fruits, tea, wine, "Liuzhai", "Shiwei", noodles, "turtle", "Tuan", fresh chicken, duck and fish, "New Year's Eve", full offerings, high fever by candlelight and cigarette smoke. It also needs to be placed where the "red ball" means that the sky is round.

On New Year's Eve, it is more important to burn "tribute silver" and "heavenly gold". According to legend, people can't eat the "New Year" and only take away the "tribute silver", so the tea wine after the sacrifice should be "sprayed with silver" (poured on the ashes of "tribute silver"). Rinandao dialect is called "Shanggong Tiandi". After setting off firecrackers, the whole family, led by the old man, burned incense in turn to worship the world. After that, firecrackers will be set off to show the end of the old year.

At noon on New Year's Eve, every household will make "every other year's powder" (commonly known as "rubbing powder"), which is an omnivorous food made of sweet potato powder, noodles, lean meat, shrimp, oysters, mushrooms, tofu, vegetable soup and so on. It means that the old year has passed and you resigned from the unhappy life. After cooking, the housewife should first put a bowl on the stove and save it for her ancestors at night, and then the whole family will get together to share it.

When the sun goes down, we will be ready to worship our ancestors. A pair of red lanterns are hung under the eaves of every household, with the owner's surname written on them. The hall was brightly lit, and the family got together and talked and laughed. In the middle of the hall of every household, there is a sacrificial table with embroidered table skirts tied with money, five fruits and six fasting, and the main lines of Fu, Lu and Shou red paper flowers are stuck on it. After setting off firecrackers, housewives burn incense to worship their ancestors and wish the whole family peace and happiness. Then burn paper money in front of the altar and set off firecrackers again to show the end of ancestor worship.

At this time, as night falls, men and women in the whole family hurriedly put away their sacrifices, turning the square table over 90 degrees, putting a red ball (meaning reunion) and a pile of fried peanuts (Kading) on each corner of the four tables, and lighting four candles at the same time (indicating that the family is close to family reunion and prosperity). Then set off firecrackers, close the hall door and lock it to prevent outsiders from coming in (outsiders are not allowed to come in during the shutdown). Older people in the family sit in the south-facing position, while others sit around the same table and eat food and wine.

When Austronesians were around the stove that day, the dishes on the table also had rules. Most of them have auspicious meanings and are very rich. Housewives serve a piece of raw tofu first, and everyone eats a small piece (the more raw tofu they eat, the richer they will be). There must be fish (homophonic "more than every year"), shrimp (homophonic "harmony", which means a family is harmonious and makes money), crab (choose ten feet, which means perfection) and oyster (homophonic "middle", which means a family in the coming year). Other dishes depend on the preferences and economic situation of each family.

When the whole family had enough to eat and drink, their parents set off firecrackers and opened the door of the main room. At this time, relatives and friends can visit each other to celebrate the New Year. Every household sets off fireworks, and all kinds of fireworks bloom brilliantly in the air. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple set off the night sky in a graceful way.

People in Rinan Island celebrate the New Year and have the custom of celebrating it. On this night of "two years old in one night, two years old in class five", families get together and get together. When a table of tea, melons and fruits, a big plate of apples is indispensable. This is called "peace". The family chats together, watches the Spring Festival Gala, waits for the moment to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year, and keeps vigil all night, which symbolizes driving away all evil diseases and epidemics and expecting good luck in the new year.

On New Year's Eve, every household in Rinan Island should turn on the lights in every room until dawn. It is said that not letting mice go back to their parents' home will destroy their good mood, affect their development and fertility, and reduce the harm to farmers. There will be a bumper harvest of crops in the coming year.

At midnight, every family opens their doors to set off fireworks to celebrate the New Year.