Is Dragon Head Festival a traditional festival? What are the customs and folklore of the Dragon Head Festival?

Is the Dragon Head Festival a traditional festival?

The Dragon Head Festival originated from the worship of natural celestial phenomena, which is related to the people's understanding of the operation of the stars and the farming culture in the ancient times. The dragon refers to the seven stars of the eastern dragon in the twenty-eight constellations, and at the beginning of the dawning of the month of mid-spring in every year (the dou refers to the east), the dragon's horn star rises from the eastern horizon, so it is called the dragon's head. Dragon's Head Festival in the beginning of mid-spring d, d five elements of wood, trigrams for the earthquake; nine two in the Ling Gua mutual shock, said the dragon left the state of latent, has appeared on the surface of the earth, emerging, for the birth of the elephant. In farming culture, the Dragon Head Festival signifies the birth of Yang Qi, rain increases, everything is full of vitality, spring plowing thus began. Since ancient times, people have used the Dragon Head Festival as a day to pray for favorable weather conditions, to drive away evil spirits, and to bring good fortune.

What are the customs of the Dragon Head Festival?

Shaving the dragon's head means getting a haircut on the second day of the second month of February, which is called shaving the head of joy if it is a child's haircut. The second of February to the children shaved head, is to borrow the dragon head of the auspicious time, bless the children healthy growth, grow up after the outstanding; if it is the adult haircut, on behalf of the old and welcome the new, hope to bring good luck, the new year smoothly.

Second, put the dragon lantern

February 2 in the Yellow River Delta and some areas along the river have the custom of putting the dragon lantern, this day many people with reeds or broomcorn millet into a boat, inserted with candles or put with radish dug into a small bowl of oil, to be put into the river in the evening or the bay lit, the meaning of the dragon to light up the road to convey a good wish.

Third, sacrificing the land

February 2 is both the Dragon Heads Festival is also the birth of the Land Lord, the land of the birth of the festival is also known as the social day. Social day is divided into spring social day and autumn social day, the ancient spring social is the spring after the fifth e day, autumn social is the autumn after the fifth e day (e, the five elements of the earth). Ancient people believed that the earth gives birth to all things, and the land god was one of the widely worshiped deities. It is believed that the land god manages the growth of grains and the peace of the place, and the people in many places have to worship the land god on the day of February 2nd.

Fourth, eat dragon food

February 2 of the food customs, usually also related to the dragon, such as eating spring pancakes called eating dragon scales, eating noodles called eating dragon whiskers, eating wontons for eating dragon eyes, eating dumplings is called to eat the dragon ear, eating onion cake is called to tear the dragon skin, and noodles, wontons a piece of cooking is called the dragon to take the pearl. Some places also eat dragon eyes, dragon whiskers, dragon tongue, dragon ear, dragon skin, dragon, dragon eggs, as well as eating spring pancakes, eating pork custom. Eating food related to the dragon on this day is a strong desire to pray for the blessing of the dragon.

Fifth, knock the dragon

February 2 in some parts of the Northeast, the custom of knocking the dragon. February 2 morning, people with a long pole hit the beams, the dragon woke up, blessing a side of peace. Adults and children also read: February 2, the dragon carries the head, large warehouse full, small warehouse flow. Some places in the yard with the stove ash spread a large circle, will be put in the middle of the grains and cereals, known as hoarding or fill the warehouse, wishing that year a bumper crop of grains, warehouse hoard full. Striking the beams of the room is to strike the beams with wooden sticks or bamboo poles to scare away snakes, scorpions and other poisonous insects, so as not to cause harm. In some places, it is popular to knock on the edge of the bed for the same purpose as knocking on the beams.

Six, cited field dragon

Dragon head in some areas, the custom of cited dragon field. Every February 2 this morning, families with lanterns to the well or the river to pick water, back to the home will light, burn incense, offerings. There are many activities to attract dragons and insects, the most characteristic is to scatter ashes. Scattering ash is very delicate, ash more selection of grass ash, people from the entrance to the grass ash to scatter a dragon to the river, and then use the chaff to scatter a dragon to lead to the home, meaning to send away lazy (green) dragon, lead to the money (yellow) dragon, blessing of people and wealth; from the street outside the gate has been scattered to the kitchen stove, and around the water tank in a circle, is called to lead the money dragon; will be scattered on the door of the grass ash, blocking the door to avoid disaster; will be scattered on the foot of the wall of the grass ash, the shape of dragon and snake, in order to invoke the blessing of the auspicious The Chinese government is also popular in the area of Fu County, Shaanxi. Shaanxi Fu County area is also popular in the practice of spreading ash around the outside of the wall of the bank, is also the performance of the dragon to drive away insects. Later, also appeared with lime instead of grass ash dragon drop insect practice.