What are the customs of Beijing Lantern Festival?

Zi Gu is Ce Shen, also known as Gucci, and in the north she is called toilet aunt and pit aunt. Legend has it that Zi Guyuan is a concubine and is envied by the first wife. She was killed in the toilet on the fifteenth day of the first month, so she became Ce Shen. Don't think that Ce Shen is in charge of going to the toilet. In fact, Zi Gu is in charge of silkworms and needlework. The ancient folk custom is to greet Ce Shen's daughter-in-law on the 15th day of the first month, which is carried out by older girls and younger wives. Make the image of Zigu with straw and cloth ends, greet and offer sacrifices in toilets and pigsty at night, predict silkworm affairs and pray for skillful hands. Some girls will talk to Zigu when no one is around. This custom was recorded as early as the Southern and Northern Dynasties.

Drive away the mice.

In the past, there were many mice, and they often came out to steal things and bite things at home. On the fifteenth night of the first month, I cooked a large pot of sticky porridge, some of which were covered with meat. I put the porridge in a bowl and put it on the ceiling and corner where mice haunt. I have to say something in my mouth, telling the mice not to steal anything else after eating my porridge, or I will curse them for dying.

Send a children's lamp.

There used to be a newly married girl. Before the Lantern Festival, parents would send lanterns to her daughter. Relatives and friends will also send lanterns to the childless newlyweds, which are called baby lanterns, and send blessings through the homonym of "lamp" and "Ding", wishing the young couple an early birth and a prosperous family. This custom exists in many places, especially when the bride's family gives her married daughter a pair of palace lanterns, hoping that her daughter will be lucky after marriage and have a son as soon as possible; If the daughter is pregnant, in addition to the big palace lantern, one or two pairs of small lanterns should be sent to wish her a safe pregnancy.