What's the festival on March 3rd?

March 3rd is a traditional festival for many ethnic groups in China, which falls on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar. In ancient times, it was called Shangsi Festival, which was a festival to commemorate the Yellow Emperor. According to legend, March 3rd is the birthday of the Yellow Emperor. China has had "On February 2nd, the dragon looked up; I was born in Xuanyuan on March 3rd. After the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Shangsi Festival was changed to March 3, which was followed by later generations, thus becoming a festival for drinking and spring outing at the water's edge in the suburbs. The third day of the third lunar month is also the birthday of the Taoist immortal Zhenwu Emperor. Zhenwu Emperor's full name is "Beizhen Naive Takeda Xuan Emperor", also known as Tian Xuan God, Xuanwu, Zhenwu Zhenjun. Born in the ancient Xuanyuan era, on the third day of the third lunar month. Many experts suggested that "China Christmas" should be held on March 3rd and the fourth day of Emperor Xuanyuan's birthday to enhance national cohesion.

March 3rd is also a traditional festival of Zhuang nationality. Zhuang people call it "lying on the slope" or "lying on the slope". The original intention is to sing in the field outside the cave, so it is also called "Gewei Festival". It is also called "Song Xianhui" because it is also to commemorate Sanjie Liu.

March 3rd can be postponed until Fu Ji. Fuxi and his sister, Nu Wa (tuán), made people on the earth and gave birth to offspring. In eastern Henan, Fuxi is regarded as the "ancestor of mankind", and the ancient temple of Taihaoling was built in Huaiyang (the capital of Fuxi). From February 2nd to March 3rd of the lunar calendar, the Temple Fair of Taihaoling was held. Good men and women all gathered in the mausoleum area to worship their ancestors.

The third day of the third lunar month is also the day when the legendary Queen Mother opens a flat peach party. There is a seven-character poem in Dumen Zayong in the late Qing Dynasty, which describes the grand occasion of the temple fair in that year: "Born in spring on the third day of March, watch the Flat Peach Palace burn incense; The wind rises slightly along the river and the red dust is everywhere. " Legend has it that the Queen Mother of the West was originally the patron saint of a primitive tribe in western China. She has two magic weapons: one is to take the elixir of life, and the other is to eat peaches-flat peaches, which can prolong life. The legendary Chang 'e flew to the Moon Palace after stealing the elixir from her husband Hou Yi. Since then, in some strange novels, the Queen Mother of the West has been described as the god of longevity.

The third day of the third lunar month is also the birthday of the Taoist Zhenwu Emperor. Zhenwu Emperor's full name is "Beizhen Naive Takeda Xuan Emperor", also known as Tian Xuan God, Xuanwu, Zhenwu Zhenjun. Hua Li was born in the ancient Xuanyuan world on March 3, and is the orthodox god in charge of military affairs and wars in Taoism. Taoist temples in various places (such as Wudang Mountain in Hubei, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, Yun Qi in Anhui and Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan) will hold a grand ceremony on March 3, and Taoist believers will also burn incense and pray in temples or recite scriptures at home. The Monument to Zhenwushan Zhenwushan gives a concise and artistic explanation of the origin of Zhenwu, the main Zhenwu Dojo in China and the "benevolence" of Zhenwu's "saving the army". It explains the reason and significance of people commemorating Zhenwu Emperor on March 3rd.

In ancient times, the third day of March was regarded as "thinking", and the Han Dynasty was designated as a festival. "Today is the third day of the month, and the officials and the people are all on the east running water (clean). It is called "removing dirt (disease)" (Book of Rites). Later, water banquets and outings were added. In the evening, every household sets off firecrackers and blows ghosts in every room of the house. It is said that ghosts haunt everywhere on this day.

The third day of the third month of the lunar calendar is also a day for spiritual people, such as witches and gods, to entertain ghosts and gods. On this day, psychics often get together to celebrate and hold banquets for ghosts and gods to thank them for their magical power.