About the custom of the Spring Festival

China has always been a typical agricultural society in East Asia. Because of the agricultural foundation, I have the most affection for the season of "spring". Beginning of spring/Spring Festival is generally regarded as the most important festival in ancient times, so there are many related folk cultures, which vary according to years and regions. Let's not talk about the popular customs that have been passed down to this day, such as setting off firecrackers, putting up Spring Festival couplets and wearing new clothes. Let's introduce some relatively small and elegant ones first ~

1. Spring Festival in Tsing Yi

At the beginning of spring, night falls less than five minutes. All officials wear Tsing Yi in the capital, and all officials wear Tsing Yi in counties, countries and counties. When spring begins, people show their signs outside the door.

-The Book of Rites of the Later Han Dynasty

The ancients thought that everything was born in spring and the world was green, so the corresponding color in attribute was "green" (turquoise). The ruling class regards wearing blue as one of the ceremonies to show their connection with "heaven".

Similarly, long summer is red (vermilion), beginning of autumn is white, and beginning of winter is black.

Similarly, the corresponding orientation of spring is "East". Therefore, the Emperor of Heaven and the officials of civil and military affairs will go to the East Gate to welcome the Spring Festival.

2. Drink Mei Huajiu/pepper and cypress wine.

All ages know to wear their clothes. They greet each other and drink pepper and cypress wine ... Dong Xunyun: It is customary to use pepper wine and pepper flowers at the beginning of the year, so flowers are collected as tribute bottles. Those who drink first in the first month will be married to the old man and drink first to congratulate him. The old man lost his age, so he drank.

-"The Story of Jingchu Times"

Mei Huajiu and Yuan Ri are old.

-"four-person monthly order"

Pepper and cypress wine is made from pepper and cypress branches. Yes, you are right. Drinking pepper-related drinks was very popular in ancient times. For example, "Songs of the South" also includes "Yao Hui Steamed Xi Lan Chicken, Diangui Wine Xi Pit Slurry", from which "Tu Su Wine" is derived, with more ingredients.

Mei Huajiu is not sure. Plum blossoms in most parts of China were not in bloom at the beginning of spring. They should have been picked and brewed last year. There is also a similar cookbook "Shanjia Qing Palace", which is not detailed.

Eat seven vegetable porridge

The seventh day of the first month is a day. Take seven vegetables as soup.

-"The Story of Jingchu Times"

Legends in ancient China are similar to Genesis in the Bible, such as "On the first day of the first month, chickens, dogs, pigs, sheep, cows, horses and people". Seven-dish porridge refers to taking seven kinds of fresh vegetables in early spring to make porridge/soup, which means welcoming the new and eliminating the bad.

I have written the details before ~ Look: Notes on Solar Terms beginning of spring: seven grass, the Spring Column of Man Mei.

Seven-dish porridge is popular in Japan now, called "seven grass". This country is in decline.