The origin of the custom of eating eggs in the long summer is this: It is said that every year in the long summer, the god of plague will sneak into the lower world to spread the plague, and anyone infected by it is "summer". So, the people went to the Nu Wa Niang Temple to burn incense and kowtow, begging her to eliminate disasters and bless future generations.

Nu Wa Niangniang told people in her dream that on the long summer day, children hung cooked chicken, duck and goose eggs on their chests to avoid "summer". Since then, "summer" has never happened again. In order to commemorate this victory, thanks to the great kindness of Nu Wa, every household has the custom of hanging eggs on their chests every summer.

Chang Xia said that bidding farewell to spring is the beginning of summer, so it is also called "the end of spring". Born in spring, grown in summer, harvested in autumn and stored in winter. Because China has a vast territory and a large span from north to south, natural rhythms vary from place to place. In the long summer season, only the area south of Fuzhou-Nanling line in China presents the summer scene of "dark green trees, long summer, balcony reflection into the pond"; And parts of the northeast and northwest just have the breath of spring at this time.

Interpretation of "Eating Eggs in Long Summer"

The custom of "eating eggs in the long summer" has a long history. As the saying goes, "if you eat eggs in the long summer, it will not be summer when it is hot." According to legend, since the day of long summer, the weather has been sunny and warm, and it has gradually become hot. Many people, especially children, will feel tired, lose their appetite and gradually lose weight. This is the so-called "squat". Nu Wa Niangniang told the people that every year during the Long Summer Festival, children hang cooked chicken, duck and goose eggs on their chests to escape the heat. Therefore, the custom of eating eggs in the long summer festival has continued to this day.

There is another saying: I eat the most in the long summer, and eating an egg is equivalent to eating a chicken. After the long summer, agriculture becomes busy and people get tired easily. Eating red dates and eggs is to replenish physical strength. This statement is consistent with Chinese medicine theory.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that eggs are flat, replenish qi deficiency, and have the effect of calming the nerves and nourishing the heart. Eating eggs when you are sick helps to restore your strength. In the past, when the living conditions were not very good, red dates and eggs were terrible. Eating a long summer egg is not only a reward for hard work, but also a hope for peace and harvest.