What are the customs of raising the dragon's head on February 2?

As a traditional folk festival in China, the Dragon Rise on February 2nd is also called Spring Dragon Festival, Qinglong Festival and Zhonghe Festival, and the date is also the second day of the second lunar month. Because these two festivals are on the same day, people in China often confuse Zhonghe Festival and Dragon Head Up as one festival. On the day when the dragon raised its head, every household prepared various sacrifices to worship the Dragon King and the God of the Land, and prayed for good weather in the coming year, so that Man Cang could have a bumper harvest of grain and rice, and placed good wishes and yearning.

The custom of February 2, known as the Dragon Head Festival, has become a custom throughout the country to pray for peace and harvest with various folk activities related to dragons. Dragon Head Raising, also known as Spring Farming Festival, Farming Festival and Spring Dragon Festival, is a traditional folk festival in China. "Dragon" refers to the seven constellations of the black dragon in the twenty-eight lodges in the East. At the beginning of the month in mid-spring, the "Dragon Horn Star" (the first star and the second star in the corner) appeared from the eastern horizon at dusk, so it was called "Dragon Head Up". Legend has it that dragons can spread clouds and rain, eliminate disasters and reduce happiness, symbolizing good luck. Since ancient times, people have celebrated "the dragon looks up" in mid-spring to show their respect for the dragon, the good weather and the abundant crops.

The custom of raising the dragon's head on February 2.

Knock on the tap

Knock on the tap to wake up the dragon: On the morning of February 2, some parts of Northeast China knocked on the beams with long poles, which was called "knocking on the tap". Wake up the dragon and save one side. Adults and children still read: "On February 2, the dragon looked up, the big warehouse was full, and the small warehouse flowed." In some places, kitchen ashes are scattered in the yard to form a big circle, and whole grains are put in the middle, which is called "hoarding" or "filling the warehouse". I wish you a bumper harvest and a full warehouse in Man Cang.

Shaving faucet

The second day of the second lunar month is the day to kill dragons and ascend to heaven. People believe that shaving your head on this day will make people lucky. Children's haircut is called "shaving their heads". When the dragon looks up, it will bless children to grow up healthily and get ahead when they grow up. Hairdressing for adults means saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, hoping to bring good omen and good luck. Therefore, the folk proverb says, "Shaving the tap on February 2nd is a good year.". On this day, every barber shop is full of customers and business is booming. In addition, there is a folk saying that "my uncle died in the first month", and many people only visit the barber shop from the twelfth lunar month to February 2.

Eating dragon food

On this day, there is also a certain emphasis on diet, because people believe that "Rowen has great wealth", so the diet of this day is mostly named after dragons. Eating spring cakes is called "eating dragon shower", eating noodles is called "Fulong beard", eating rice is called "eating Zi Long", eating wonton is called "eating dragon ears", eating noodles is called "eating dragon beard", cooking noodles with wonton is called "Longna not cooking", eating pig's head is called "eating dragon head" and eating scallion cake is called "tearing dragon". Everything carries symbols and meanings related to dragons. All these have pinned people's strong desire to pray for the dragon's blessing.

On the second day of February, people in China have a prayer activity for the Dragon King. Hainan is surrounded by the sea. Since ancient times, people have prayed for peace in the South China Sea, and Longwang Temple has been built in various coastal villages.