The Origin and Customs of Xiaoman

Everyone should know the origin and customs of Xiaoman. Xiaoman is the eighth solar term among the 24 solar terms in China and the second solar term in summer. Twenty-four solar terms are indispensable festivals in Chinese lunar calendar. Let's learn about the origin and customs of Xiaoman first.

The origin of Xiaoman and the origin of customs 1 Xiaoman

Twenty-four solar terms: "In mid-April, things are small and full." At this time, the seeds of summer sowing crops such as wheat in the north have begun to be full, but they are not yet mature, which is about the late stage of milk ripening, so it is called Xiaoman. Agricultural proverbs in southern China give Xiaoman a new meaning: "Xiaoman is not satisfied with the broken ridge"; "Little people are full of discontent, regardless of mangoes." The word "full" is used to describe the amount of rain, and it is pointed out that if there is not enough water in the field when it is full, the ridge may crack and even rice cannot be planted when it is planted.

The custom of Xiao Man

Grab water and sacrifice to the car god

In the past, irrigation and drainage with waterwheels was an important event in rural areas. As the saying goes, "a small truck moves three cars (three cars refer to silk cars, oil cars and water wheels)." Start the waterwheel when it is full. Previously, farmers held a ceremony of "grabbing water" with the village fair as the unit, which was intended to drill in Haining area.

Sacrificing the car god is also an ancient custom in rural areas. It is said that the "Car God" is a white dragon, and farmers will put fish and incense on the bottom seat of the car to worship it before drinking water. What is special is that there is a cup of white water in the sacrifice, which is poured into the field during the sacrifice, which means wishing the water source flourish. The above old customs show that farmers attach importance to water conservancy irrigation and drainage.

Xiao Man Dongsanche

The three cars here refer to waterwheels, oil trucks and silk trucks. At this time, the crops in the farmland need a lot of water, so the farmers are busy turning water on the waterwheel; The harvested rapeseed is also waiting for farmers to mash it and make it into fragrant rapeseed oil; The farm work in the field cannot be delayed.

But the silkworm babies at home should also be taken care of carefully. Around Xiaoman, silkworms will start to cocoon, and sericulture families are busy shaking silkworms (SAO). "Jia Qinglu" records: "Xiaoman first came here, and the silkworm woman cooked cocoons, treated the reeling of cars, and worked day and night." It can be seen that in ancient times, when the solar terms were full, new silk was about to go on the market, and the silk market soon flourished. Silkworm farmers and silk merchants are full of expectations, waiting for the harvest. This day will come soon.

Silkworm god's birthday

Xiaoman Festival is said to be the birthday of the silkworm god, so on this day, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, which are famous for raising silkworms in China, are also very lively. Xiaoman Festival is in early summer, when the cocoon takes shape, it is just waiting for reeling. Planting mulberry and sericulture is a traditional sideline in rural areas in the south of the Yangtze River. Silkworm is a treasure and a food source for villagers, and people are full of expectation and gratitude for it. So this festival is full of rich silk folk customs.

The origin and custom of Xiaoman 2. The origin of xiaoman

Xiaoman is one of the twenty-four solar terms and the second solar term in summer. It means that the seeds of summer crops are full, but immature, just small and not full. Every year from May 20th to 22nd, when the sun reaches 60 degrees, it is in full bloom.

Twenty-four solar terms: "In mid-April, things are small and full." At this time, the seeds of summer sowing crops such as wheat in the north have begun to be full, but they are not yet mature, which is about the late stage of milk ripening, so it is called Xiaoman. Agricultural proverbs in southern China have given Xiaoman a new meaning: "Xiaoman is not satisfied with the broken ridge"; "Little people are full of discontent, regardless of mangoes." The word "full" is used to describe the amount of rain, and it is pointed out that if there is not enough water in the field when it is full, the ridge may crack and even rice cannot be planted when it is planted.

Xiaoman's custom:

First, bitter vegetables deal with heat syndrome

"Zhou Shu" said: Bitter vegetables show on the day of Xiaoman. Sophora alopecuroides, as one of the earliest edible wild vegetables, is spread all over the country. Although the names vary from place to place, the nutritional components and medicinal value are the same.

Sowthistle is rich in nutrition, contains many vitamins, minerals, choline, sugar, riboflavin, mannitol and so on, and has the functions of clearing away heat, cooling blood and detoxifying. Long-term service can set your mind at ease and nourish your qi, making people strong and anti-aging. Medicine is mostly used to treat fever, and ancient people also used bitter herbs to sober up.

Therefore, people like to eat bitter vegetables in the full season, and bitter vegetables with astringent and sweet taste are treated by various cooking methods, or cold-mixed, pickled or stir-fried, to adjust their taste, which also has a certain response to summer heat.

Second, "grabbing water" to irrigate farmland.

No matter in the north or the south, crops can't grow without water. Unless limited by natural conditions and without irrigation conditions, farmers have to rely on the weather to eat.

As long as rivers and lakes can be irrigated, farmers will make full use of water sources and create conditions for the growth of crops. Summer temperature rise, long sunshine time and large water consumption are the key periods for the growth of most crops. Therefore, the importance of irrigation is obviously higher than other seasons.

The custom of "grabbing water" when I was young is actually a portrayal of the real life of farmers in Shanghai.

In the past, people used water trucks to pump water for irrigation and drainage. An agricultural proverb says that "a small car drives three cars", and the waterwheel is usually started when it is small.

Farmers take the village as a unit and hold a ceremony of "grabbing water" when Xiaoman is full. The older deacons called all the people to prepare in advance. At the dawn of Xiaoman Day, they set out together and lit torches on the foundation of the waterwheel. When the deacons used drums and gongs as their signals, all the people responded together and began to step on the waterwheel to introduce the river into the fields.

Third, "Sacrifice the Three Gods" to pray for blessings

Xiaoman has the saying of "moving three cars", which refers to waterwheels, ox carts and silk carts.

"Sacrificing to the Three Gods" refers to offering sacrifices to the gods who are in charge of the three cars in Xiaoman season, praying for the blessing of the gods, good weather and abundant crops.

According to legend, the "Car God" is the White Dragon. Farmers will hold sacrificial ceremonies in front of cars and water. Fish, incense and other offerings are placed on the bottom seat of the car for worship, and a cup of white water is specially prepared as a sacrifice. When offering sacrifices, pour water into the field to wish the water source flourish.

Fourth, celebrate the birthday of the silkworm god.

According to legend, Xiaoman is the birthday of the silkworm god. Therefore, on Xiaoman Festival, people who raise silkworms should celebrate the birthday of the silkworm god.

Xiaoman season is early summer, and cocoon reeling is waiting for picking. In order to have a good harvest and express gratitude to the silkworm god, the silkworm family will hold a grand ceremony to celebrate the birthday of the silkworm god.

Especially in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which is famous for sericulture, we attach great importance to the birthday of the silkworm god. Ancestral temples have been built in many places to worship the silkworm god. In Xiaoman season, a troupe will be specially invited to sing to celebrate. It should be noted that most of the songs sung by operas are auspicious plays, in order to get a good oral color and good luck.

The origin and custom of Xiaoman 3. The origin of xiaoman

Xiaoman is the eighth solar term in the twenty-four solar terms of the China lunar calendar. It is called Xiaoman when the sun reaches 60 degrees from May 20th to 22nd in the Gregorian calendar every year. The name Xiaoman is related to the growth of crops. In some areas in the south, the name Xiaoman is also related to rain and irrigation. "Xiaoman is planting seedlings in the long summer" and "plants are rushing to Xiaoman Valley for autumn". Xiaoman is a season suitable for rice planting.

In addition, "small fullness" means that the seeds of summer crops are full, but not yet mature, just small fullness, not yet full. In ancient times, there was a proverb that "a big fall is full, and a small fall is full". "Falling" means rain. The more rain, the greater the future harvest.

Early rice along the Yangtze River has entered the late tillering stage or the early jointing stage, so it should be baked in time to control ineffective tillering, protect panicles and increase grains, and promote high yield. Mid-season rice should be planted early at this time to increase nutrient accumulation and increase the number of effective panicles. At this time, it is also the rapid growth period of cotton seedlings, so seedlings should be fixed, transplanted and replenished in time to facilitate early development and healthy growth. In addition, in the cotton area along the Yangtze River, at this time, there is more rain, the soil is sticky and the air permeability is poor, so Qin Ying cultivates loose soil to promote roots and strengthen seedlings.

The harvest in the north has already seen the embryonic form, and the only difference is the key to the final accomplishment. As the saying goes, those who travel a hundred miles are half ninety, and the final critical period often determines how much sunshine there is in the smile on the forehead and how much the sweat on the cheeks can be worth.

The south of Xiaoman season is another world. Farmers in the south pay close attention to the harvest and drying of summer crops on sunny days, while carefully taking care of the energetic expectations in rice fields. Drought without rain is distressing, and continuous heavy rain is equally disturbing. 20 10 Grain Rain season rainstorm, let little man feel a little scary. Fortunately, if one side is in trouble, all sides will support it. Fortunately, if people are United, Taishan will be the top, and it will be perfect day by day.

Astronomical experts reminded that this solar term is full of rain, sufficient light and suitable temperature, which is conducive to wheat filling. However, in the harvest season, people can't simply wait for the harvest, but also always pay attention to the attack of "dry and hot wind", otherwise the harvest of one year will be threatened.