On the first day of the sixth lunar month, if the old year is counted from the twelfth lunar month, it coincides with more than half of the year. At this time, the wheat harvest was completed and the new wheat was put into storage. So in ancient times, this day was a grand semi-annual festival.
Northerners will steam steamed bread and wrap jiaozi with new wheat, while southerners will make cakes with red storks and rice noodles to worship the gods and ancestors, and then the whole family will eat offerings together to pray for abundant rain and good luck.
It is said that one summer hundreds of years ago, there was a great drought in Jiashanwu village, and rice could not be planted. Sweet potatoes and mangosteen have turned yellow, but the villagers can only "look up to the sky and sigh." After hearing about the magical power of public rainfall on Wang Sanxiang in Zhicaowu, Zhuji, villagers in Jiashanwu who were eager for rainfall sent someone to ask Wang Sanxiang to set up a memorial tablet for the temple at the entrance of the village.
After seven days and seven nights of devotion, I'm really glad to have this rain. A cold rain brought Jiashanwu back to life. The next day, on June 14th of the lunar calendar, villagers in Jiashanwu beat gongs and drums to send Wang Sanxiang back to Zhuji. Unexpectedly, the sturdy sedan chair bar broke three pairs, and Wang Sanxiang refused to get up.
The villagers burned incense and made a wish, telling them: Thank you for Wang Sanxiang's divine power, bless Jiashanwu Village, and wish to have sacrifices every year today. I wish the villagers a smooth return of the tablet bearing Wang Sanxiang to Zhuji. Since that year, Jiashanwu Village has had a "half-year festival".
There are different opinions about the origin of the local "Half-year Festival". According to 79-year-old Yu, one summer hundreds of years ago, there was a drought in Jiashanwu village, and rice could not be planted. Sweet potatoes and mangosteen have turned yellow, but the villagers can only "sigh".
They heard about the magical power brought by public rainfall to Wang Sanxiang in Zhicaowu, Zhuji. The villagers in Jiashanwu, who were eager for rainfall, secretly sent someone to ask Wang Sanxiang to set up a memorial tablet for the temple at the entrance of the village. The villagers prayed devoutly for seven days and nights, and sure enough, they were happy with the rain. A soaking rain revived Jiashanwu.
The next day, on June 14th of the lunar calendar, villagers in Jiashanwu beat gongs and drums and carried Wang Sanxiang's memorial tablet to send him back to Zhuji. Unexpectedly, three pairs of sturdy sedan chair bars were definitely broken, and Wang Sanxiang refused to get up. So, the villagers burned incense and made a wish, telling them: Thanks to the divine power of Wang Sanxiang, bless Jiashanwu Village with good weather, and wish to offer sacrifices every year today.
I hope the sedan chair will be lighter, and the villagers will smoothly send the memorial tablet carrying Wang Sanxiang back to Zhuji. Since that year, Jiashanwu Village has had a "half-year festival".
Nowadays, it doesn't matter whether the story about the origin of the "Half-year Festival" is true or not. Wealthy Jiashanwu villagers have turned it into another important festival for family reunion instead of praying for rain. It is understood that in Wuling Village, which is adjacent to Jiashanwu Village, there is also a "semi-annual festival" every year, but the day when they celebrate the "semi-annual festival" is June 1 day.