China News Service, Beijing, March 11 (Reporter Shangguan Yun) "On February 2, the dragon raises its head, the big warehouses are full, and the small warehouses flow." "February 2" of the lunar calendar is also called the Dragon's Head Festival, the Dragon's Head Festival, etc., as a traditional Festival, many of its customs are related to "dragon".
For example, on this day, people usually go for a haircut, which is called "dragon head shaving" for good luck. As for food, spring cakes or pancakes are called "dragon scale cakes" and noodles are called "dragon beard noodles".
Meng Lingfa, associate professor at the School of Law and Sociology of Chongqing Technology and Business University, told China News Network that "Dragon Raises its Head" is a folk festival based on observing changes in celestial phenomena. It has been regarded as a festival since ancient times to pray for good weather, to ward off evil spirits and to avoid disasters, and to receive good fortune. The day of transit.
Data map: The picture shows people dancing the long dragon.
Photo by China News Service reporter Chen Guanyan
Why is "Dragon Raising Its Head" set on "February 2"?
"February 2, the dragon raises its head" also has other names such as Vegetable Picking Festival, Spring Dragon Festival, and Dragon Head Festival.
As a traditional festival, "February 2" appears earlier than "Dragon Raises its Head".
Judging from the existing Chinese classics and documents, "February 2nd" as a holiday has a certain connection with the first month of the fifth year of Zhenyuan in the Tang Dynasty, when "February 1st" was designated as the "Zhonghe Festival".
However, out of people's need to enjoy spring, the Zhonghe Festival quickly merged into "February 2".
Why is "dragon raising its head" used to explain "February 2"?
There is a saying that this day is just between the two solar terms of the Waking of Insects and the Spring Equinox, and the astronomical phenomenon is that "Spica" rises, and the eastern blue dragon gradually reveals its true appearance, which is commonly known as "the dragon raises its head".
Generally speaking, the formation of "February 2, the dragon raises its head" is influenced by the emerging festivals of the Mid-Tang Dynasty, the long-term accumulation of spring solar terms, and people's cultural tradition of making stacked numbers (even numbers) easy to recognize and remember. know.
What auspicious meanings does it have?
"Dragon raises its head" is another name for "February 2". Its auspicious meaning comes with changes in celestial phenomena and climate, as well as corresponding festivals and customs.
As for the former, because "Spica", the first night of the Eastern Canglong, rises during the period between the Waking of Insects and the Spring Equinox, it means that the dragon will take on the responsibility of moving clouds and spreading rain, thereby triggering the recovery of all things and the success of farming. Good harvest.
Since the mid-Tang Dynasty, people not only go out for an outing on the day when the dragon raises its head, but also pick wild vegetables at this time. The "Chronicles of the Years of the Middle Qin Dynasty" records: "(Chang'an) Qujiang is picking vegetables, and the sightseeing of scholars and people is at its peak. ".
In the late Tang Dynasty and later, the "dragon raising its head" was given the beautiful meaning of "welcoming the rich" and "sending the poor" while picking wild vegetables.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, a kind of food called "Yingweiguizhi" appeared, and people ate this food to pray for wealth and prosperity.
Data map: The "Dragon Heads Up" prayer ceremony was held in the ancient city of Taierzhuang, Zaozhuang.
Photo by Wang Longfei
What does the "dragon" in "dragon raises its head" mean?
Some people believe that "dragon raises its head" has a certain degree of natural worship, but the "dragon" here is not the dragon that is usually said to be "a dragon gives birth to nine sons".
By observing the natural celestial phenomena, the ancients discovered that the first star of the Canglong, Spica, which is composed of the seven Eastern constellations of the twenty-eight constellations, gradually rises from the horizon between the Waking of Insects and the Spring Equinox. They believed that the Eastern Canglong began to awaken at this time and was about to take on the task of moving clouds and spreading rain. Responsibility for helping grain growth.
Since ancient times, "dragon raises its head" has been regarded as a day to pray for good weather, drive away evil spirits and avoid disasters, and receive good fortune.
Over the long years, people's visual creation of the dragon of the stars has gradually merged with the "dragon" or "dragon king" in folk beliefs and customs.
What are the holiday customs?
Among the main customs of "February 2", many activities themselves have a certain connection with farming, production and life.
The "February 2" where the "dragon raises its head" is also considered to be the birthday of the god of good fortune, that is, the community god, commonly known as the earth god. Therefore, among the people, there is "February 2, to worship the village community; the dragon to raise its head, to pray for a good harvest; On the second day of the lunar month, sacrifices are made to the village hall; the dragon finishes the ceremony and sends the dragon home."
In fact, since the Song Dynasty, sacrifices to social gods have been mostly held on the fifth Wu day after the beginning of spring (Wu, the five elements belong to earth), which is usually around February 2. In order to facilitate memory or sacrifice, people have placed social sacrifices since the Song Dynasty. The activities are combined on "February 2, the day when the dragon raises its head".
Therefore, February 2, when the dragon raises its head, has become an important day to offer sacrifices to the land god to pray for good weather and abundant harvests. Therefore, "February 2" also has the title of "Land Festival" or "She Day Festival".
On the day when the dragon raises its head, people offer sacrifices to the gods of society and often invite performers to entertain them.
In the northern region, there are customs such as "inviting the field dragon" and "surrounding grain hoarding".
People believe that "February 2, when the dragon raises its head" is the period of the Waking of Insects, when insects sprout, and diseases are easy to occur. Since then, agricultural pests and diseases have begun to increase, so they hope to use the power of the dragon to suppress all insects and protect people and animals. The harvest is plentiful, which is commonly known as "inducing the dragon to subdue the insects".
Data map: Citizens get haircuts at a hair salon in Xicheng District, Beijing, hoping for good luck.
Photo by China News Service reporter Hou Yu
Why do you need a haircut on February 2nd?
When the day of "dragon raises its head" comes, people not only sacrifice to the dragon to pray for good weather and abundant harvests, but also compare themselves to the "re-rising" Eastern Canglong in order to "start from scratch" and take on a new look.
Among the people, people often refer to children's haircuts at this time as "happy head shaving", which means to protect children's healthy growth and success in the future. When adults get haircuts on this day, they say farewell to the old and welcome the new, pray for good luck, and hope that the new year will go well. The meaning of wishful thinking.
"February 2, the dragon raises its head" highlights the natural celestial phenomenon that "spring is the beginning of the year".
There are many taboos in the first month. It is the most urgent direction for people to break these taboos by getting a haircut and enter the spring plowing with a new look and a vigorous spirit.
Why do these customs contain the word "dragon"?
Various customs of "dragon raising its head" demonstrate people's worship of dragons to a certain extent.
In the diachronic development and synchronic spread of "dragon raises its head", the referent and signifier of "dragon" have undergone certain changes, and gradually evolved into the worship of all "dragons".
Since ancient times, the Chinese have shown a strong worship of the mysterious animal dragon. "Dragon Raise Its Head" is an important node in the spring plowing season. Therefore, it has become a common practice to name different sacrificial acts with the name "dragon" on this day. .
For example, the customs of "dragon raising its head" and "laying dragon lanterns" are meant to lead the way for the dragon to illuminate and express people's good expectations.
In short, these folk activities that are organically combined with the "dragon" in "Dragon Raise Its Head" reflect China's long history of dragon worship and the rich creativity of the Chinese people.
Data map: On the second day of the second lunar month, colorful folk cultural activities were staged at the Cultural Plaza of the Minle Modern Silk Road Pastoral Complex in Zhangye, Gansu Province.
Photo by Dou Bin
What special foods are there?
There are various special foods on the day of "Dragon Raises Its Head", and there are many food proverbs or sayings circulating.
For example, "Eat dumplings on February 2, and the dragon that is afraid of all diseases will escape from the body." "Eat beans on February 2, and people will have a good harvest without getting sick."
In the vast North China area, there is a saying that "on February 2, eat dragon food", that is, the food eaten on that day is named after "dragon". For example, spring cakes or pancakes are called "dragon scale cakes"; noodles are called "dragon beard noodles" .
These two kinds of food are recorded in "The Records of the Years of Yanjing".
In addition, dumplings are also called "Long Er"; wontons or longan are called "Long Yan"; wonton noodles are called "Dragon Playing with Pearls" and so on.
There is a custom in Xuzhou area of "Fried beans on February 2nd".
There are two types of "beans" here. One is dry-fried soybeans in sandy soil, and the beans are ready to eat when they are cooked; the other is to pour the fried soybeans into boiled white syrup and continue to boil them into lumps.
This food is called "scorpion claw" in local dialect.
If given to children, it is said that it can protect them from the "five poisons" such as snakes, insects, rats and ants.
What are the holiday themes?
The festival theme of "dragon raising its head" has a diachronic development process, but the core reference has never left agricultural production and the worship of the dragon image.
Specifically, the festival theme of "dragon raising its head" can be roughly summarized into two parts that are of the same origin.
The first one is from the initial observation of astronomical phenomena and their visual interpretation to praying for good weather in agricultural production and abundant harvests; the second one is from going out to pick vegetables after worshiping the dragon and worshiping the shrine to deworming and health care, and praying for blessings and prosperity.
Meng Lingfa believes that "the dragon raises its head" entrusts the Chinese people's pursuit of a better life and embodies the Chinese people's social construction and humanistic creation based on the laws of nature. It is not only a relatively unique intangible cultural heritage of China, but also a diverse cultural heritage of the world. important part of sex.
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