After the Yuan Dynasty, there were more and more records of various folklore activities on February 2, when the dragon raised its head. People also called this day the Dragon Head Festival, Spring Dragon Festival or Green Dragon Festival. The end of the Qing Dynasty, "Yanjing times" said: "February 2 ...... people today call for the dragon head. Is the day of food cake is called the dragon scale cake, food noodles is called the dragon beard noodles. Boudoir to stop the needle and thread, fear of injury to the eyes of the dragon also." At this time not only eat cakes and noodles, women can not operate needlework, for fear of hurting the eyes of the dragon. Liaozhong County Records" recorded the Republic of China, the local February 2 folklore, said: "February 2, commonly known as the dragon carries the head. Wake up in the morning with a pole to knock the beam, called knocking the dragon's head, meaning that the dragon hibernation from the land, cover the period near the hibernation. Farmers salty to coarse rice flour for cakes and buns for breakfast. Women shaved their heads for children on this day, taking the meaning of the dragon's head." This is a folk custom in Liaoning area, early in the morning to use a long pole to knock the beams, to wake up the dragon. At the same time also make some pasta to eat. As a festival of ancient folklore, the February 2nd Dragon Head Raising Festival has now largely faded from the modern lives of the Chinese people. However, we should also recognize that some of the cultural connotations of "February 2nd Dragon Heads Up", such as the worship of dragons by ancient people, the materialistic interpretation of "Dragon Heads Up" in ancient astronomy, etc., are still of research value. The second day of the second month of the lunar calendar is one of the traditional festivals of Huai'an folklore, called "Dragon Head Raising", also known as "Dragon Head Festival". "On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head, and the men in every family shave their heads. In the old days, Huai'an people had the saying that "if you have money or not, you should shave your head for the New Year". Before the Spring Festival shaving and haircut to February 2, has been more than a month, is the need to shave and haircut time. February 2, the dragon raises its head, is an auspicious day, over time, the formation of the February 2 shaved head custom. "February 2 dragon raised its head, family children shaving hair" is also the reason for this, in order to take advantage of the good luck in the middle of shaving the head plus "dragon" word, called shaving the "dragon" head, in order to distinguish between other times of shaving the head, but also Some girls choose this day to get their ears pierced. In addition, parents choose this day to send their children to study. "February 2, the family pick up their daughters". In the old days, the bride does not return to the door in the first month, the daughter-in-law does not go to her mother's home, the first month is not empty. At the same time, there is "married daughters in the first month can not look at the lights of the mother's home, look at the lights of the mother's home death of the father-in-law" superstition, and therefore the first month of the daughter is not allowed to return to her mother's home. More than a month, the girl wants to mother, mother wants to daughter, so to February 2, not only has been out of the first month, but also an auspicious day, so each family to pick up their daughters back to their families. "February 2nd, shine the beams, scorpions, amusement clams nowhere to hide". On this day, candles left over from New Year's festivals are lit and shone on the beams and walls to drive out pests. In addition, on this day, children use chopsticks to knock on a dried dipper, saying, "February 2nd, knock on the dipper, nine out of ten rats will be blind." They use chopsticks to knock on the wine cup and say: "February 2nd, knock on the wine cup, ten nests of rats, nine nests are empty", so as to drive away rats and mice. Use white paper strips to write "February 2, all insects and ants straight into the ground" of the "cricket list", in which "all insects and ants straight into the ground" to pour the book, and then stick it on the table legs or bed feet to avoid insects and ants. The "Cricket List", in which "all insects and ants go straight to the ground" should be inverted in the book, then stick it on the table leg or bed foot to avoid insects and ants. "February 2, the dragon raised its head, the big hoard full, small hoard flow", with green ash painting grain hoard or granary, or in front of the door with green ash painted in circles of varying sizes, symbolizing the big circle to take the small circle, praying for a good harvest, which is another folk custom. February 2, some also have to eat food Eve potpourri and women avoid the custom of needle and thread. It is said that the dragon head when moving needle and thread, will hurt the eyes of the dragon. February 2, according to legend, is the land lord's birthday, called "land birth", in order to give the land lord "warm life", some places have organized the "land will" custom: families to raise money for the land god Congratulations on the birthday of the land god, to the land temple incense burning rituals, drums and gongs, firecrackers, after the founding of the country this custom gradually faded.

Food customs on February 2

Ordinary people in this day to eat noodles, spring cakes, popcorn, pork, etc., different regions have different food, but most of them are related to the dragon, and generally add the name of the food "dragon" title, such as eating dumplings called to eat the "dragon ear"; eating spring cakes called to eat the "dragon ear"; eating spring cakes called to eat the "dragon ear"; eating spring cakes called to eat the "dragon ear"; eating spring cakes called to eat the "dragon ear"; eating spring cakes called to eat the "dragon ear". "; eating spring cakes called eating "dragon scale"; eating noodles called eating "dragon beard"; eating rice called eating "dragon son"; eating wontons called eating The "dragon's eye".

Eating spring pancakes is called "eating dragon scales" is very graphic, a spring pancake larger than the palm of the hand is like a piece of dragon scales. Spring cake has toughness, rolled inside many dishes. Such as soy sauce meat, elbow, smoked chicken, soy sauce duck, etc., cut into thin shreds with a knife, with several kinds of home-style fried vegetables such as shredded meat fried leeks and sprouts, shredded meat fried spinach, mung bean sprouts cooked in vinegar, veggie fried vermicelli, spreading eggs, etc., rolled into the spring pancake, dipped in thinly shredded green onions and drizzled with sesame oil to eat the noodle sauce, it is really fragrant and refreshing. When eating spring pancakes, the whole family sits together, put the branded spring pancakes in the steamer, eat as you take, hot, happy.

The second day of February to eat popcorn has a legend. Legend has it that when Wu Zetian became emperor, the Jade Emperor ordered that no rain would fall on earth for three years. But the Jade Dragon in charge of the Heavenly River could not bear to see the people suffer and starve, and secretly sent a heavy rain, the Jade Emperor was informed, the Jade Dragon in charge of the Heavenly River was knocked down from the Palace of Heaven, and pressed under a big mountain. A monument was erected under the mountain, which reads: "The Dragon King violated the rules of heaven by sending down rain, and was subjected to a thousand sins on earth. If you want to climb back up to the heavenly palace, unless when the golden bean blossoms." In order to save the Dragon King, people searched everywhere for the blossoming golden beans. To the second day of February of the next year, people are turning the golden corn seeds, suddenly remembered, this corn is like gold beans, fried flowers, is not the gold beans blossom? So every family popcorn, and set up in the yard burning incense, for the "blossom of the golden beans", specifically for the Dragon King and the Jade Emperor to see. The dragon king knew that this is the people in the rescue it, shouted to the Jade Emperor: "Golden beans bloom, let me out!" The Jade Emperor took a look at the golden bean blossoms opening in every yard on earth, and had to summon the Dragon King back to the Heavenly Court to continue to raise clouds and spread rain on earth. Since then, the folk formed a custom, every February 2 this day, people popping corn flower, there are also fried soybean.

The second day of February to eat pig's head meat also has a saying. Since ancient times, offerings to the gods always use pigs, cows and sheep three animals, and later simplified for the head of the three animals, the pig's head is one of them. According to the Song Dynasty "Qiu Chi notes" recorded a story: Wang Zhongling after the pacification of Sichuan, very hungry, so broke into a small temple in the countryside, but met a drunken monk, Wang Zhongling angry, want to behead, which know that the monk is not afraid of, Wang Zhongling is very strange, turn to him to ask for food, not long ago, the monk offered a plate of "steamed pig's head", and the monk was not afraid to eat. "Steamed pig's head" and wrote a poem about it: "The mouth is long and hairy and shallow with fat, long to the mountains to eat medicine seedlings. Steam has been wrapped in banana leaves, cooked with apricot paddle water. Red and fresh is elegantly called gold plate Ting, ripe and soft can really be jade chopsticks pick. If there is no hairy root to compare, the felt root is the same as the vine." Wang Zhongling ate steamed pig's head, listening to the funny and chic "pig's head poem" is very happy, so, the monk was named "Purple Venerable Master". It seems that the pig's head is really a delicacy it, but also is the turn of the tide for the auspicious sign of peace and prosperity. Today there is a famous dish called "grilled pig face", after the selection of materials, cleaning, spray roasting, washing and soaking, soy sauce and other twelve steps, after more than ten hours of cooking, to be served on the table. There are three kinds of "grilled pig's face", one is eaten in its original flavor; the second is dipped in sauce; the third is rolled pancakes to eat. Each way of eating has a different flavor. "Pork face" is fat but not greasy, meat and bones are separated, sticky and delicious, and it brings beauty and brain-health effects to modern people. "Eating modern "Pork Face" on February 2 and reminiscing about the ancient history of food and drink is a perfect experience of blending the contemporary with the historical.

The second day of the second month of the lunar calendar to eat mustard rice is the Wenzhou folk custom widely spread, and have "eaten mustard rice does not have scabies," said. In the old days, the people live in poverty, health awareness is weak, coupled with the lack of medicine, skin diseases (such as scabies) patients, and easily infected. Mustard contains a lot of chlorophyll and vitamin C, often eat vegetables rich in chlorophyll and vitamin C, can improve their own immunity, enhance resistance, the human skin has benefits. Therefore, there is a "eat mustard rice does not have scabies," said.

It is said that this custom has an interesting legend. One day, the Emperor Qianlong micro-visit to visit the people, to a farmer's home in southern Zhejiang Province, found a well-read young man Zhang due to poverty, unable to go to Beijing to take the examination, but only at home to read poetry. Zhang was so hospitable that he invited Emperor Qianlong to have a light meal. When he was about to cook, Zhang realized that there was not enough rice in the rice bowl and there were no dishes. Zhang Mou's plan came to him in a flash. Called his wife first ready to fire, he went out from the back door to the garden to peel a handful of young green mustard, add a few spices, cooked into a pot of green with white mustard rice. Emperor Qianlong usually used to eat the sea food, seafood, and by midday, has been hungry, a smell of this fragrant mustard rice, appetite, eat with relish, and praise, even asked how this green with white rice. Zhang's wife replied, "It's called mustard rice, and you won't get scabies if you eat it."

This day, coincidentally, is the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, the custom of eating mustard rice on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar has been passed down.