the Spring Festival; Chinese New Year
The Spring Festival is the longest and grandest festival. In the old days, on the first day of the first month, on this day, the main family got up at night, lit candles and burned incense, set off firecrackers to meet the god of heaven and earth, and didn't open the door until they burned incense. Men, women and children all put on new clothes, and those who are rich, such as leather, woolen cloth, silk and satin, show their wealth. Poor people, new outside and old inside, in order to be neat; Women and children pay attention to clothes and strive for novelty. Diet is very particular. In the morning, there are dried silk, fruit tea, gold ingot (glutinous rice balls), cakes, ginger and so on. Save a little after every meal; I want to eat supper at noon, and the dishes are all made on New Year's Eve, which is intended to eat old dishes, which is more than enough every year; Dinner, noodles. When family members meet their neighbors, they should say auspicious words, such as congratulations on getting rich and giving more alms. Don't light at night, go to bed early and pray for fewer mosquitoes in summer. On the second day of the Lunar New Year, newlyweds send "fruit tea" to their relatives and friends. Early in the morning on the third day, every family sent their children to the land temple to compete for the first incense. Sweeping the floor is not popular on the first day. On the fifth day, after worshipping the god of wealth, several people will sweep it, and they must sweep it from the outside to the inside, in order to make money and treasure. The fifth day is "God of Wealth Day". Shops must open their doors to meet the god of wealth. Old farmers observe the sunny days and sunny days every day from the first day to the tenth day, and predict the ups and downs of people and livestock's grains in that year: one day, two places, three winds, four rains, five horses, six sheep, seven people, eight grains, nine beans and ten cotton, with sunny as a good day. During the Spring Festival, there are many cultural and recreational activities, such as playing dragon lanterns, dancing lions, singing phoenix and seeing off Kirin. A folk proverb says, "Pay New Year's greetings in the first month, play with lanterns in February and plant land in March." In Jiang Duo, Dasi and Mibai, every household steamed steamed buns in the first month, wishing the six animals prosperity.
After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), the government has three legal holidays. Institutions, schools and mass organizations often hold meetings, parties and tea parties to wish each other; Rural entertainment propaganda teams beat gongs and drums to pay New Year greetings to families of martyrs and five-guarantee households. In the sixties and seventies, the rural brigade rehearsed revolutionary model operas and went to the countryside to perform. In recent years, wealthy families have hired movies or invited theatrical troupes to perform in the countryside. In addition to the superstition of praying to God and worshipping incense, I followed suit.
the Lantern Festival
Also known as Shangyuan Festival, commonly known as Lantern Festival. On the 13th day of the first month, every family "pulls lanterns" and named them "lanterns" to make it clear to the whole family. Eat jiaozi this morning; Eighteen "turn off the lights" and eat noodles. There is a folk saying that "put the lanterns and eat them until next year." During the Lantern Festival, Jiangyan Dongyue Temple, Dutian Temple and Longwang Temple were all decorated with screen lights, and the lights were painted with classical novel characters such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms and List of Gods, and the audience was jostling with each other.
In the old days, there was a wind of pulling masthead lights in the countryside. In front of the land temple, a mast with a height of more than ten feet was planted and dozens of bamboo sticks were planted. Each lane is tied with hemp rope with keels and other things, and several lanterns are hung in each circle (one for each household). A bell is tied to the end of the pole, and then it is like pulling a sail. Rabbit lights, toad lights, carp lights, lanterns, octagonal lights and airplane lights are the most popular among children.
The second day of the second lunar month
"On February 2nd, every family brought their daughters." On that day, every household in urban and rural areas brought their daughters and husbands home as guests and treated them warmly, although it was not illegal. This is still the case today.
The twelfth day of the second lunar month.
It is customary to take February 12 as the birthday of Baihua. On that day, most women cut red paper and red cloth into colored strips and tied them on the grass. This is called "hanging red" and wishing flowers bloom.
Qingming Festival
Also known as the Cold Food Festival. Ten days before Tomb-Sweeping Day, families were busy "adding graves" and offering sacrifices to their ancestors; The new daughter-in-law wants to "go to the flower grave" for the new old man When the grave is three years old, firecrackers and red paper flowers are set off to show filial piety. In Tomb-Sweeping Day, families offer sacrifices to the dead and use fried flour instead of meat. Before the willow branches are inserted into the eaves, the proverb says, "If you don't insert willow in Qingming, it will turn yellow after death." Women also wear willow balls on their temples. The custom of inserting willows was originally to commemorate the Huang Chao Uprising, but now it is little known. In Jiang Duo and Zhangdian areas, there is also the custom of spreading cakes with buckwheat noodles mixed with willow leaves to commemorate Zheng Chenggong's resistance to Qing Dynasty. It is also said that when the gods see people in the lower world eating leaves, they will feel pity and prevent disasters. In Jiangyan, Xingtai and Qintong areas, it is customary to eat cold rice and cold leeks on this day to pray for a long life, not in midsummer; Snail meat and A Man Called Autumn Flower are very popular in He Lixia, which can improve eyesight. Eating cold rice actually stems from the commemoration of the Cold Food Festival, and its original intention has been blurred. There were a lot of people watching mahjong playing cards that day. It is said that "you don't watch cards on Qingming Day, and no one will recite them after death."
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the folk custom of sweeping sacrifices remained basically unchanged, but the color of feudal superstition faded. Organs, schools, factories, mines and enterprises take this opportunity to organize memorial activities, sweep graves for revolutionary martyrs, tell stories of martyrs and carry out revolutionary traditional education.
Early summer
"Women wear flowers in long summer, long summer". On that day, women and children wore acacia flowers between their hair roots and braids, and soap leaves hung on their skirts, saying that they were not allowed to doze off in summer; Don't sit on the threshold, avoid "summer"; The bride's family should send a mat, pillow, fan, summer cloth, straw hat and bath bucket to her newly married daughter, which is called "sending summer"; Weigh yourself with a big scale to see whether you are fat or thin in a year. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the wind of "sending summer" still exists, and everything else gradually disappears.
Dragon Boat Festival
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, every household should pick fresh reed leaves (commonly known as "zongzi") to make zongzi. The core of the bag is mainly glutinous rice, mixed with glutinous rice, mixed with broad bean petals, red beans, peanuts, red dates, diced ham and so on. And the shape is mostly four corners, and there are angles, axes, water chestnuts, ingots and so on. In the old society, May was called "Poisonous Month". Every family put up the sign of "Five Poisons", hung up the statue of Zhong Kui, inserted mugwort leaves and calamus in front of the door, and sprinkled realgar water indoors. The children wore tiger shoes and hats, tied with a "hundred-legged rope" and dipped in realgar wine to write the word "Wang" on their foreheads, meaning to ward off evil spirits and avoid filth. The dishes pay attention to "five reds": yellow croaker, shrimp, salted eggs, amaranth, dried pickles and barbecue. The bathroom burned "herbal soup (wormwood and calamus were put in the soup)", and the bath was poisoned.
After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), the symbol of "Five Poisons" and the image of Zhong Kui were no longer attached, and everything else followed.
May thirteenth
Legend has it that today is Guan Gong's birthday and the anniversary of Guan Ping's death. There is a custom of eating cold noodles in both urban and rural areas.
The sixth day of June
On a hot summer day, there is a proverb "June 6th, wash white meat, eat coke and raise a piece of meat", and swim in the river.
Chocci Festival
According to legend, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the cowherd and the weaver girl met. Seven days ago, the girl tied a red, green and blue thread on her wrist, which was called "binding velvet". On that day, take it down and throw it on the house, let the magpies take it to the Tianhe Bridge and weave it into a reunion dream of the cowherd and the weaver girl. Children mashed impatiens with alum and wrapped it on their nails, which turned into red nails the next day. It is said that they can resolve phlegm. At night, the children stood in front of the court, looking at the clouds in the sky and commenting on their images. Colorful clouds are unpredictable and erratic, like galloping horses, like flocks of sheep, like Youlong and Cai Feng. Everyone applauds those who can see quickly and judge accurately. The mother asked her daughter to thread a needle in front of the lamp and beg for dexterity. The ancient poem goes: "When Qiao Qi's building is in front of him, the golden needle refers to the spring silk."
Ghosts'Festival
Commonly known as "July and a half". The ceremony of ancestor worship on this day is the same as Qingming, but the time of memorial service is noon. There is a proverb called "burn Qingming early and burn winter, and the dead miss in July and a half." According to legend, in July of the Ming Dynasty, the city suffered a severe flood, and the people were buried in the belly of the fish before eating it, and they all became hungry ghosts. As a result, later generations formed the custom of respecting the dead and comforting the ancestors at noon. This custom has been passed down to this day. Only near Wangshi Town, we have jiaozi for lunch. The kiln workers in Xizhuang Village, Qintong Lake often work at night, afraid of meeting ghosts, so in July and a half, they asked the monk to let out a solitary flame. On that day, a mast was erected on the high pier, and seven lanterns and a seven-star lantern (the Big Dipper) were hung to summon ghosts to the theater for fasting.
July 30(th)
Legend has it that Japan is the birthday of the earth treasure king. Bodhisattva forgave her life, so people burned paper money on the roadside, in the fields and in the wilderness to offer sacrifices to ghosts and gods, which was called "Zhai Gu". They will also set off river lanterns and sacrifice ghosts to the river. After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), this custom was gradually abandoned.
Beginning of Autumn
Today is the day to eat watermelon, which means you can eat pig hair rotten.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Also known as the reunion festival. On that day, everyone eats moon cakes, jiaozi, sticky cakes, lotus root cakes and drinks reunion wine. People in water towns can kill ducks; Farmers in Nanxiang make a "moon cake" the size of a pot cover. At the time of the full moon, every family put on record, lit candles and burned incense, and displayed fresh fruits and cakes on the case. Family reunion and enjoying the moon, heaven and earth are accompanied by thousands of miles. There is also a saying of "touching autumn" in Jiang Duo. That night, young men went to the Liu family to steal bowls, fishing nets, late babies and other things and gave them to families who had been infertile for a long time or whose babies died in large numbers. In Jiangyan area, children in the street build pagodas with bricks and rubble to worship the moonlight, and go to the wild to collect all kinds of fruits for fun. They beat (make) cows' heads with water chestnuts, or monkeys with flat pods, Touma and taro, goldfish with grapes, and dragonflies with cowpea pods and red beans. Parents selected some excellent works and put them on the table to add fun to the festival.
After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), the custom of eating moon cakes and enjoying the moon is still popular. In 1980s, every festival, CPPCC and United Front Work Department held tea parties to make friends with people from all walks of life, talk about state affairs and enhance unity. The remaining customs gradually disappeared.
Double Ninth Festival
The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the Double Ninth Festival. People in urban and rural areas are famous for eating rice cakes and climbing high. Jiangyan Town Cake Shop specializes in selling oblique cakes, and also prepared colored paper flags to add festive atmosphere. As the days get shorter and shorter, workers no longer eat extra meals and late tea. As the saying goes, "If you eat Chongyang cake, you will forget the evening tea." In the old days, the owner of the handicraft workshop set the table and wine to reward the workers every day, saying that he would start working at night in the future. As the saying goes, "If you drink chong yang wine, you won't leave your hand at night." In the past, rural employers dismissed cowboys on this day. As the saying goes, "In September, in October, the thin view of Niu Lao drifted home." The girl also began to bind her feet that day. As the saying goes, "Double Ninth Festival in September and October, little feet are wrapped." In the 1980s, Chongyang carried out activities to respect the elderly in urban and rural areas.
Winter solstice
It is the "Next Yuan Festival" the day before, also called Dadong and Xiaodong. Big winter is a festival for people, and small winter is a "Ghost Festival". As the saying goes, "a big winter is like a year, and a small winter is worthless." China's folk ancestor worship includes Yu Xiaodong and Fish Cave, each of which follows ancient rules. Eating melons in winter can cure head wind.
Laba Festival
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, according to legend, it is the day of Daoism in Moucheng of Sakyamuni, and people have the custom of eating Laba porridge. The rich add ginkgo, red dates, chestnuts, mushrooms, golden needles, fungus, peanuts, tea beans and so on. To porridge; Poor households assist in planting sweet potatoes, carrots, taro, miscellaneous beans and peanuts.
Sending stove
On the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, the people sent the kitchen god to heaven. Dust removal and cleaning during the day, offering red beans, cakes, sugar, meat, rice and cypress branches decorated with ginkgo and red dates as sacrifices at night, burning incense and offering sacrifices to the stove. Before the sacrifice, put chopsticks in the chopsticks bucket, so that the kitchen god can report more people and rations; Kitchen God put some sugar on his mouth and put it next to the ash pile to burn. The sesame stalk next to the ash pile is a "ladder", which makes the kitchen god "speak well from the sky". The ceremony was presided over by a male host. If the man goes out, the hostess silently prays: "I sent the stove and he received it." Qintong Town, Zhu, Chen, Li and Shen all sent stoves on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. I don't know why. On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the kitchen answered, "The lower bound is safe." After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), this custom was gradually abandoned.
New Year's Eve
Commonly known as "Thirty Nights", it is the most sacred day of the lunar year. We should get all the new year's goods ready before New Year's Eve. "If you have money, wash it for the New Year." Adults and children cut the head of the ingot and take a shower. Early in the afternoon, I put happy flags, Spring Festival couplets (called "full house" without writing a word), New Year pictures, and avoid sticking plum blossoms and other works of art, and avoid calling them cats because they are homophonic with plum, rice and lintel. There is a chopping block printed in the yard, which is Yue Xiao, a loyal minister; Putting sesame sticks in front of the door means that the arrow drives the year and keeps peace forever. As the saying goes, "if you don't worry about the long ones, you will worry about the sesame stalks in the eaves." Housewives elaborate old rice cookers, cook a pot of rice with polished rice, decorate it with preserved fruit, insert cypress branches and old rice flags on it, and decorate the leaves with ginkgo and peanuts until the sixth day of the first month. "old rice flag": stick a colored paper flag with a wooden pole, one meter high, and stick various paper cuts up and down; When measuring rice, the rural housewife prayed devoutly: "One liter of people, one liter of pigs, six animals flourish, and the crops are abundant, which means that there is more than one year, and it is promoted step by step." Old rice is cooked in Qintong area, ranging from six liters to six liters. Because it is located in a water town, it has been flooded for nine years. The dialect "six" is homophonic with "fishing", which means "fishing". In the evening, families get together to eat birthday wine, prepare silver carp for more than a year, eat celery hard, and eat taro to welcome the good people in the new year. Burn candles and incense to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. In Louzhuangsha area, New Year's Eve falls on different days, including 28 nights and 29 nights, which is unknown. From New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, many people forbid to eat fish and fish, saying that vegetarianism at the end of the year can keep you safe for a year. The elders give the younger generation red paper as "pension money" to avoid noisy children and make a fortune with this as the focus. According to the cloud, it is night, God is in the lower world, and Gong has offended. Put a few dates, cloud cakes and peanuts on the child's pillow, and the child will taste them when he wakes up, which will bring him an "early promotion".
In the old society, it was the custom for the poor to celebrate the New Year. On New Year's Eve, the creditors had the habit of collecting debts with a lamp. The debtor will hide until the early hours of the morning and then appear.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, before New Year's Eve, the people's government organized cadres to visit the poor and ask questions, distribute money and food, help the poor and offer condolences to the families of martyrs and disabled soldiers. In recent years, the grade of folk new year's goods has been improved year by year. In urban and rural areas, fireworks are getting better every year.