[Explanation] On February 21, we ushered in the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar. The dragon raises its head, which is also known as the Spring Farming Festival and Spring Dragon Festival.
Where did the saying "the dragon raises its head" come from?
Why on this day?
According to folklore experts, this is actually closely related to traditional Chinese farming culture and ancient astronomy.
[Concurrent] Wang Juan, an expert on folklore at Peking University
In ancient times, the stars were very important in people's lives, and people would observe its position. In spring, in February, it happens to be the Dragon Horn Star, which rises from the horizon, so we say it is like "dragon raising its head", like the Chinese dragon It is because it is the god of rain, and we define it as "the dragon raises its head". At this time, when spring comes, this dragon is also a god who moves clouds and spreads rain, so "the dragon raises its head" means that the dragon wakes up, and it starts in spring After work, it is said that it needs to spread clouds and rain, so "dragon raises its head" just fits the Chinese people's perception of this time or season.
[Explanation] On the day of "Dragon Raises its Head", one of the more widely spread customs is haircut.
Experts said that in fact, the custom of haircuts appeared relatively late, roughly formed in the Qing Dynasty.
The more ancient custom is to hold spring plowing activities on this day, such as the dragon dance meeting and offering sacrifices to the sun god.
[Concurrent] Wang Juan, an expert on folklore at Peking University
There are many sacrificial activities, offering sacrifices to the sun god to make sun cakes, like before and after the waking of stings, the poisonous insects of the waking of stings have also begun to recover, and they have to drive away evil spirits.
So sometimes they choose to use lime to surround everything in their granary.
When we say spring, it’s like we say wake up the dragon god. In fact, there is also a spring festival, and he plays dragon lanterns, so it is also very lively, and there are many other customs of folk dances.
[Explanation] On February 2, people in many areas will also prepare special delicacies such as dragon scale cakes and dragon beard noodles.
[Concurrent] Wang Juan, an expert on folklore at Peking University
We say that this custom is related to the dragon, including the dragon beard noodles, and the dragon scales are cakes, which are actually a kind of spring cakes. It means that the people have a simple concept, which is to wake up the rain god, because you should travel clouds and rain, and you should also It's time to work, spring is here, so it's called Jielonglin, Jielonglin is to move you and wake you up.
[Explanation] Experts said that the "dragon raising its head" on February 2 actually represents a kind of "spirit" of the people. It is the expectation for spring and the enthusiastic expectation for the arrival of the new year.
[Concurrent] Wang Juan, an expert on folklore at Peking University
It is a way of expression, that is, we say that every year starting from spring, we all hope to have a good start, and he has many, many wishes.
In the Chinese farming society, if you don’t cultivate yourself, there will be no harvest, so we use this method, it also has a way to lead the people, it is a kind of inheritance of ourselves and tradition, and it is also an incentive.
Reporter Wang Shibo reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Sun Jingbo]