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

As traditional folk festivals in China, the Dragon Head Rise on February 2 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 the two festivals are on the same day, people in China often mix Zhonghe Festival and Dragon Head Rise as one festival. On the day when the dragon looks up, every household has prepared various sacrifices to worship the Dragon King and the land god, and to pray for good weather in the coming year, so that crops can be abundant and rice can be harvested in Man Cang, and they have placed their good wishes and yearning.

The custom of February 2, which is called the Dragon Head Festival, has become a custom all over 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 astrological signs of black dragon in the East in the Twenty-eight Hostels. At the beginning of the month in mid-spring, the "Dragon's Horn Star" (namely, the first star and the second star in the Horn) appears from the eastern horizon at dusk, so it is called "the dragon looks up". Legend has it that dragons can spread clouds and rain, eliminate disasters and reduce happiness, symbolizing auspiciousness. Since ancient times, people have celebrated the "Dragon's Head Raised" in mid-spring to show their respect for dragons, good weather and abundant crops.

The custom of raising the head of the dragon in February

Knocking on the tap

Knocking on the tap to wake the dragon up: In the morning of February 2, some parts of Northeast China hit the beams with long poles, which is 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, big circles are scattered with kitchen ashes in the yard, and the whole grains are placed in the middle, which is called "hoarding" or "filling the warehouse". I wish the grain harvest and the warehouse full.

Shaving the dragon's head

The second day of the second lunar month is the day when the dragon is killed and ascended to heaven. People think that shaving your head on this day will make people lucky and lucky. Children's haircuts are called "shaving their heads", and when the dragon looks up, it will bless children to grow up healthily and get ahead when they grow up; An adult's haircut means to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, hoping to bring good omen and good luck. Therefore, the folk proverb says, "Shave the tap on February 2nd, and you will be in good spirits all 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 don't patronize barbershops in the twelfth lunar month until February 2.

Eating dragon food

On this day, there is also a certain emphasis on diet. Because people believe in "Rowen Dafa", this day's diet is mostly named dragon. Eating spring cakes is called "Eating Long Lin", eating noodles is called "Fulongxu", eating rice is called "Eating Longzi", eating wonton is called "Eating Longer's Ear", eating noodles is called "Eating Longxu", cooking noodles and wonton together is called "Longnabuzhu", eating pig's head is called "Eating Dragon Head" and eating onion cakes is called "Tearing Dragon". Everything takes symbols and meanings related to dragons. All these have placed people's strong desire to pray for the dragon's blessing.

On the second day of February, people in China have activities to pray for the Dragon King. Hainan is surrounded by the sea. Since ancient times, people have the custom of praying for peace in the South China Sea, and Longwang Temple has also been built in various coastal villages.