Changshu’s traditional customs include celebrating the New Year, welcoming the God of Wealth, celebrating the Lantern Festival, offering incense on the third day of March, dragon boat racing, climbing high to eat cakes during the Double Ninth Festival, sending gifts to the Kitchen God, sticking to the Door God, attending temple fairs, etc., all of which are attended by many people. Folk activities.

First, New Year

Every household posts Spring Festival couplets and wears new clothes, symbolizing the renewal of everything. In the early morning, the head of the family gets up and sets off "open firecrackers". The women of the household go to nearby temples to burn incense and worship Buddha, while the businessmen go to Kofukuji Temple, Hokokuin Temple and other places to burn incense to pray for good luck.

On the 15th day of the first lunar month, every family eats "rice dumplings" (i.e. Yuanxiao). Young children in the countryside walk through the streets and beat the gongs and drums on New Year's Eve. At night, firecrackers and fireworks are set off in the streets and alleys of urban and rural areas, and activities such as lantern fairs and dragon lantern dances are held.

Second, Dragon Boat Festival

Each family should hang mugwort, cattail leaves, and garlic leaves on the door, affix the magic charms issued by Taoist priests, and hang a Zhongkui statue to ward off evil spirits and drive away ghosts. Use Atractylodes, mugwort leaves, Angelica dahurica and other medicinal smoke indoors to drive away insects and snakes. There are dragon boat racing activities in urban and rural areas.

Third, Mid-Autumn Festival

Every family eats moon cakes, water chestnuts, lotus roots, sugar-roasted taro and wontons. Farmers use glutinous rice and cowpeas to steam cowpea cake, which is commonly known as turtle wheat cake.

Fourth, Double Ninth Festival

Every family eats Double Ninth Festival cakes and drinks chrysanthemum wine. Chongyang cakes with triangular colorful flags are sold in the market. According to legend, there is a saying that climbing high can avoid disaster. People in urban areas often climb Yushan Mountain to enjoy the autumn colors. Many units across the city organize elderly gatherings to celebrate the festival with the elderly and wish their elderly friends good health.

Fifth, New Year’s Eve

The New Year’s Eve dinner is sumptuous, including cold dishes, hot stir-fried dishes, braised dishes, and white pot dishes. Parents give new year's money to their children, while younger generations buy clothes and supplements such as American ginseng to honor their elders.

Changshu Municipal People’s Government-Festival Folklore