What is the custom of "going out to the garden" of the Chaoshan people?

The seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar is the "Beggar's Festival" in China and the unique events of the Chaoshan people, such as "going out to the garden", "going out to the children's festival" and "the birth of the mother-in-law", etc. Among them, "going out to the garden" is actually the rite of passage of the Chaoshan people. The festival is also a unique event for the Chaoshan people, which is the rite of passage of the Chaoshan people, such as "going out to the garden", "going to the son's festival" and "the birth of the mother-in-law".

The Chaoshan people believe that children younger than 15 years old live in the "garden" under the protection of a pair of deities called "Gongmu" (mother-in-law) and "Gongmu" (father-in-law), and that whether a child grows up or not depends on the gifts of these deities, which is why the Chaoshan people have a strong belief in worshipping "Gongmu" (mother-in-law). Therefore, the Chaoshan people have always attached great importance to the worship of "Gongmu".

Children who live in the "garden" pay homage to "Gongmu" on the seventh day of the seventh month every year to pray for healthy growth; children who have left the "garden" are no longer in the "garden". "The children who have come out of the garden are no longer under the control of their parents, and will no longer worship their parents on the seventh day of the seventh month in the future.

On the day of "leaving the garden," children wear new clothes and clogs, usually red, sent by their uncles. On the morning of the day, the parents ask the children to put a pomegranate flower, which is a symbol of good luck, on their ears.

Breakfast on this day is usually served to eight people, with a rooster, desserts, vegetables and other dishes that make up an eight- or twelve-course meal. Dining seat is also a delicate, "out of the garden" who sat on the seat, the chicken head toward him, by "out of the garden" who ate, the chicken head will become his patent. The significance of this is that when you grow up, you will be successful and prosperous.

Only after the "garden" person raises his chopsticks to take a bite, others can eat, and this is true for every kind of food. And when the person coming out of the garden is a chicken, a goose should be substituted for the chicken.

On this day, at noon, a sumptuous lunch is prepared and relatives and friends are invited. During the banquet, family members and relatives wish the child good luck and send good wishes. "A few days before or on the day of the wedding, relatives will come to give gifts, either in the form of red envelopes or gifts, to the main character of the wedding, but usually the parents will organize the ceremony and return the gifts.

In Jieyang, there is a saying that on the day of the garden, the child cannot run too far away or even cross a bridge. On this day, the child just plays and eats without having to do any chores and is pampered by his parents for the last time.

For a good omen, the child's words and requests are usually not refused until the last resort.

"Out of the garden" is a farewell ceremony, but also a beginning ceremony, from now on, the child even jumped out of the garden wall, said goodbye to the flowers and birds, innocent, carefree and ignorant childhood, marking his entry into adulthood, really embarked on the road of life.