Customs and traditions of New Year in Heyuan?

The Spring Festival, commonly known as Chinese New Year, is the biggest and grandest festival of the year. In the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, men try to find more money to buy new year's goods, while women cut more firewood and grass to prepare for the New Year. December 25 for "into the New Year boundary", commonly known as "ghosts lock the door", the women do not go up the mountain to cut wood and grass, but rather at home, cleaning, sanitation, to welcome the New Year. In December of the lunar calendar, families began to organize "New Year's goods", rushed to do "New Year's material". Indispensable New Year's goods are as follows:

Chuan sugar. Longchuan, Heyuan, Zijin and other places produced a cane sugar. Characterized by strong viscosity, suitable for making rice cakes, almost every household to buy hundreds of pounds. New clothes. Each person should at least make a new set of clothes, a new pair of shoes and buy a new pair of socks. Rice. Generally speaking, each family should have at least one month's worth of rations, and no one is allowed to pound the pestle until the first month of the year. In the past, there is no rice mill and other processing machinery, all rely on manual hulling, pestle and mortar processing, the workload is very large, most of them have to struggle for three or four days to complete.

Fried rice cake. Its production process is: the sticky rice or glutinous rice cooked into a dry rice, and then mixed with dry rice with sand in the iron pot heated fried burst, some with vegetable oil fried burst, called fried rice. Then the sugar will be fried into syrup, fried rice, peanuts, sesame seeds and other ingredients into the syrup and stirred up into the wooden frame made of boards paved and compacted, cut into small rectangular pieces with a knife. Fried rice cake tastes sweet, crisp, adults and children love to eat. Playing fried rice cake is very concerned about the technology, not only the ingredients to be proportionate, and frying paste to pay attention to the "fire", get it wrong can not become a block, and into the loose rice is not eaten. Generally speaking, a bucket of rice with 2.5 pounds of sugar, only more, not less, pay special attention to the "fire". Experienced people put a bowl of water on the stove, Sichuan sugar fried to a certain time on the beginning of the pulp, with bamboo chopsticks to drop a little syrup in the water, such as has become a "pine point" can be immediately extinguished at the bottom of the pot fire, put the fried rice into the pot constantly stirring, try with your hand, if it is very sticky on the pot will be poured into the fried rice within the wooden frame paved and compacted until the condensation before cutting with a knife. it sets before cutting it into small pieces with a knife. Oil fruit. Also known as "fried fried pile". Oil fruit production is relatively simple, the first glutinous rice into powder, each bucket of glutinous rice with 2.5 pounds of sugar. Sugar will be boiled into sugar liquid and glutinous rice flour rubbed evenly, rub the longer the more fluffy, rolled into powder dough and then pinched into a ping-pong ball-sized powder, the surface of the white sesame seeds, and then put into the frying pan burned fried, fried into a deep red color can be removed from the pot. The fried fruits will be steamed and softened as a wine, which is an indispensable food for every meal during the New Year.

Vermicelli. The sticky rice into a rice paste, with soybeans, sesame seeds, peanuts and other ingredients, the rice paste into the iron spoon into the frying pan frying, deep red until the frying can start. The fried noodles are crispy, savory for young and old, and are one of the foods used to entertain guests during the New Year.

Sesame Seed Crisp and Peanut Crisp. The production method is similar to playing fried rice, sesame seeds and peanut kernels as raw materials, the sugar will be fried into a paste and then stirred with fried sesame seeds and peanut kernels, and poured into the tin pot to spread and compact, cut into small cubes. Sesame seed crisp and peanut crisp are also indispensable food for Chinese New Year.

The above kinds of New Year's materials are necessary for every family, all processed and made by themselves. In addition, mandarin oranges, melon seeds, cookies and candies are also indispensable, and most of these New Year's materials have to be purchased in the market in small quantities, mainly for entertaining guests.

The above materials are usually prepared before the "New Year's Day" (December 25 of the lunar calendar).

The 25th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar serves as the defining date for entering the New Year, meaning that after the 25th day of the 12th month, the New Year's Eve period begins. People who go out to work or do business have to come back. "Into the New Year's boundary" after the sweep of the house is extraordinary, the actual three-dimensional cleaning, the whole family hands. After a thorough cleaning, indoors and outdoors, windows clean, people's mood is incredibly comfortable, everywhere showing a new scene in addition to the old.

Grinding tofu, drying Xieng Khouang, killing pigs, chickens, ducks and so on. Around December 27th or 28th of the lunar calendar, families start grinding tofu. Most of the farmers have a small Xieng Khouang in front of their homes, to the lunar calendar December 27 or 28 days before and after all the Xieng Khouang water to catch fish, on the one hand, to use Xieng Khouang fish to make dishes, on the other hand, to facilitate the Spring Festival after digging up Xieng Khouang to do fertilizer fertilizer. At the same time, began to kill pigs one after another. General family New Year's Eve are to use thirty or forty pounds of pork, some families New Year's Eve a household to kill a large pig, the main purpose is: one, gifts to relatives, friends, each family relatives to gift two to three pounds of pork, especially in-laws gift of meat is more, the number of newly married in-laws gift pork is more substantial, otherwise it would be laughed at as a "lone cold ghosts".

The family's gift of pork is even more substantial.

Family of young and old busy until December 30, New Year's goods, New Year's material all ready, the family is happy, especially children are more joyful, eat well, wear good, and do not get adults scolded scolding. Out of business, working people at the latest in the New Year's Eve to rush home to eat "reunion dinner". This day is also the most busy, I do not know the pain to do each person to do things, but everyone is happy face full of spring. December 30th of the lunar calendar, also known as New Year's Eve, this day must do things:

Washing pomelo leaf bath. Pomelo leaves picked back in the morning, after noon, every family will be pomelo leaves into the pot of water boiling, each person has to wash pomelo leaves hot water bath, the intention is to dirt, "poor gas", "bad gas" washed away, clean into the new year. Washed pomelo leaf bath will be replaced with new clothes, new hats, new socks, new shoes, from head to toe a new look, change the dirty clothes the same day to wash clean. Therefore, taking a pomelo leaf bath contains the meaning of getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. This custom has been diluted year by year.

Sending Zaojun. Beforehand from the town to buy back the Zaojun God statue, write a good Zaoshu (written on the family name and age), ready Yuanbao, incense and candles, three animals, wine, fruit and other offerings, in the stove side of the set of a "Baxian table", will be the offerings on the table. The whole family gathers in front of the Zaoshen statue to salute and respectfully send Zaojun back to Heaven to report on his duties, praying that Zaojun will give blessings and eliminate disasters in front of the Jade Emperor, and that the coming year will be prosperous and peaceful for the whole family. Generally speaking, people only pray to Zaojun for a few words of blessing and peace of the family, and so on. Cultured, knowledgeable people also solemnly set up the sacrifice, read the text, the text is as follows: "But the king, still the master of the family, the king is the first of the five sacrifices, the cooking tomb kitchen, there is no blasphemy; family prosperity, all rely on the support of the force, both thankful in the weekdays, pay tribute to this night, I hope that the god king, overlooking the micro-worry, to protect the elders and young people to peace, blessed to add and blessed. I am grateful." This custom, in addition to a few elderly people, more than not.

To honor the ancestors. After breakfast on the 30th day of the waxing moon, where the year added a male child will be sent to the ancestral ancestral temple cleaning, the ancestral temple walls painted. In the afternoon, one after another people with gift boxes, three animals, firecrackers, joss sticks and other offerings to the ancestral ancestral ancestral worship incense. After the rituals are performed, firecrackers and some cannons are fired. Every New Year's Day afternoon, the ancestral ancestral ancestral temple incense fire, the sound of firecrackers and firecrackers, has continued until dusk. This custom has faded in recent years.

Pasted spring couplets, New Year's paintings. The main door, small door are pasted with large red spring couplets, lintel paste "Lishui", door panels paste door god or "Fu", "Daji" and other words. Kitchen, cattle pen, pig pen, chicken grill, toilet and other places should also be affixed with red paper written with "prosperity", "six animals" and other red paper "peach charm". Halls and bedrooms, guest rooms are plastered with new year's paintings, a joyful and happy scene.

Eating a reunion dinner. The reunion dinner on the 30th night of the New Year is the most solemn family feast. Rules are also many: First, after the separation of the son to return to his parents on New Year's Eve *** to eat "reunion dinner". Second, the row of seats. Elderly people must be on the seat, and then by generation down the row. At the same time, the upper seat to reserve a few empty seats, put a few empty bowls and chopsticks, intended to let the deceased ancestors also come back to the reunion, to show respect for ancestors. Third, all made good New Year's dishes, each of which should be served with a bowl on the table, dishes more than to enable a large round table, indicating abundance. Fourth, the precepts. Usually parents are not allowed to children drink alcohol, New Year's Eve reunion meal is open, children can also make exceptions to drink alcohol. Fifth, taboos. Men, women and children can not say unlucky words. Some people are worried that children can not comply with, beforehand in the restaurant wall with a red note written on the words "children's words, no taboos". No bowls or chopsticks are allowed to be dropped. If a bowl or chopstick is accidentally dropped, it should be cleaned up while saying "good luck". If a bowl is broken, it should be wrapped in red paper and placed in an inconspicuous place. When eating, the younger generation should give the elders a toast to the food and wine, and wish the old man good fortune and longevity. The family is polite and courteous, talking and friendly, full of unity, peace, respect for the elderly and love for the young atmosphere.

Send new year's money. New Year's money, also known as the "Lishui". The old man to the children to send the new year's money, to use the new banknotes into the red paper bag distributed one by one. The younger generation should also give "Li Shi" to their elders. "The money is at the disposal of the children, and the parents do not interfere.

Washing dishes. According to the ancestral tradition, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, do not eat meat, to eat vegetarian. So after the New Year's Eve feast all tableware should be cleaned, not half a bit of meat, otherwise it is disrespectful to the ancestors. Belong to the meat of all meat are centralized and stored in one place and sealed with a strip of paper, called "sealing the year". This is objectively good for the stomach.

Watch out for the new year. After the reunion dinner, oil lamps (kerosene lamps) are lit in all parts of the house, and the whole house is lit up all night long, called "pointing the fire of the new year". Families gather together to enjoy fragrant tea, fruits, melon seeds, peanuts, candies, etc., and the elders tell the younger generation the history of the family and the clan, educating the younger generation to remember the ancestral teachings, to inherit the ancestral virtues, to be industrious and thrifty, and to be united and harmonious. After telling the family history, family history, some banging gongs and drums, some fireworks, all can not go to bed early, known as the "year-end". Generally have to wait until midnight, open the door, firecrackers to welcome the new year before going to sleep, children can be an exception. Some people simply make trouble until dawn.

Opening the door. The first day of the first month of the morning (i.e., zero hour) for the time to send the old and welcome the new. Households will open the door, firecrackers, this time every corner can hear the deafening sound of firecrackers, it is really all guns, one after another, very lively (in recent years, Heyuan City and some counties in urban areas prohibit the discharge of fireworks). Generally by the elders to open the door, open the door to the people to drink loudly: "open the door to Daji, Daji Dachang". Hall, stove hall, gate, small door are lit on the big red candles, incense worship, to meet the New Year, meet the God of Wealth.

On the first day of the New Year, young and old get up early. Legend has it that if you don't get up early on this day, it means a year of bad luck. After getting up, brush your teeth and wash your face, the woman in the kitchen to prepare breakfast, in fact, rice and vegetarian dishes every other night has been done, and then hot once is. The men bring vegetarian boxes filled with candies, rice cakes, Yuanbao, joss sticks and candles to the ancestral shrine to pay respects. The altar of the ancestral shrine is filled with various kinds of vegetarian tributes, and the young and old perform rituals, after which they go home for breakfast. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, breakfast, lunch and dinner are all vegetarian. Vegetarian dishes include bean curd, vermicelli, gold leaf (yellow cauliflower), fungus, tofu skin, shiitake mushrooms, celery (to symbolize industriousness), garlic (to be cost-effective), and green onions (to be smart), although there is no meat such as chicken, duck, or fish, but it's still a hearty meal.

Welcoming. After breakfast, parents and children go to the elders' homes to pay New Year's greetings, bowing to the elders, giving them "lishui" and wishing them "long life" and "Happy New Year". The elders return the favor, handing out "lai see" and candies to the children and wishing the younger generation "happiness in the family and all the best". For those who are of high rank and old, they are overwhelmed with New Year's greetings from the younger generation almost all day long. Although they are tired, they are also pleased and gratified. Peers meet each other congratulations, blessings, send each other "Lishui" and candy to each other's children. On the first day of the year to meet with each other, do not ask sick debt, or not only to make fun of it will cause disputes. The first day of the year is also the most taboo, in addition to not say unlucky words, but also can not change clothes, can not sweep the ground to pour garbage, can not go down to the river to pick water, can not let the cattle, pigs, chickens and ducks, can not scold the children, can not move the earth, can not break the family miscellaneous. There is a bad thing happened will be remembered for a whole year, so the first day of the year to do things especially careful care.

The second day of the Lunar New Year, also known as the "reunion", generally do not go out. This is the day to start eating meat.

The third day of the Lunar New Year, also known as the "poor ghost day". Wake up early in the morning, the whole family hands cleaning, commonly known as "sweeping the poor", the cleaner the better, there is a little confetti on the ground and other things are not swept clean will be regarded as "poor". In short, to sweep all the garbage out of the door. When cleaning, you should also read "poor ghosts out, rich people in". Clean up the garbage concentrated and sent away from home to the wild riverside, roadside fire and firecrackers, that has been the "poor ghost" away. The third day of the new year sweeping contains some superstitious colors, but also in line with the health requirements. The first day of the year, two are not allowed to sweep the ground, the garbage piled up, the third day of the year to a big cleanup should be. Because the third day of the year is "poor ghost day", the whole family do not go out, do not go to other families, such as inadvertently into the door of the other family, will be regarded as "poor ghost", inauspicious, unwelcome. So the third day of the year generally do not enter the door. If there are special circumstances that must be boarded, the master of the house will be called out of the door to talk, the guests consciously do not enter the door, the master will not invite the guests to enter the door.

On the fourth day of the first month of the year, women began to carry pork, rice cakes and other gifts back to their parents' homes, relatives, we traveled together, laughing and joking along the way, very lively. Men began to carry out recreational and sports activities, also known as "New Year's Eve", "New Year's Eve". The traditional folk art programs include: "Lion Dance", "Dragon Dance", and "Horse Lantern Playing". After the fifth day of the New Year, the work begins to be done one after another