What is the origin of the dragon raising its head on February 2? The legend of the origin of the dragon raising its head

The dragon raising its head on February 2 is related to ancient astronomy. In ancient China, the twenty-eight constellations were used to represent the positions of the sun, moon, and stars in the sky, and were used to determine the seasons. Among the twenty-eight constellations, the seven constellations of Ang, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, and Ji form a complete dragon-shaped constellation (called "Scorpio" by Westerners), and Spica is the horn of the dragon. Every time after the spring breeze in February, the dragon-horned star appears on the eastern horizon at dusk, so it is called "dragon heads up".

The legend of the origin of the dragon raising its head

According to legend, when Wu Zetian became emperor, the Jade Emperor ordered that no rain should fall on the earth for three years. But the Jade Dragon in charge of the Tianhe River could not bear the suffering and starvation of the people, so he secretly sent a heavy rain. When the Jade Emperor learned about it, he knocked the Jade Dragon in charge of the Tianhe River down from the Heavenly Palace and pressed it under a mountain. There is also a monument erected at the foot of the mountain, which reads: The Dragon King's rainfall violates the laws of heaven, and he shall be punished for the rest of his life. If you want to return to Lingxiao Pavilion, you will have to wait until the golden beans bloom. In order to save the Dragon King, people looked for blooming golden beans everywhere. On the second day of February of the following year, people were drying the golden corn seeds, and suddenly remembered that the corn was like golden beans. When they were fried and bloomed, weren't they just golden beans blooming? So every household popped popcorn, set up a table in the courtyard to burn incense, and offered "flowering golden beans" for the Dragon King and the Jade Emperor to see.

The Dragon King knew that the people were saving it, so he shouted to the Jade Emperor: "The golden beans are blooming, let me out!" When the Jade Emperor saw the golden beans blooming in every courtyard in the world, he had to pass on the message , ordered the Dragon King to return to heaven and continue to bring clouds and rain to the world. Since then, people have formed a habit. Every February 2nd, people pop corns and some fry beans. Adults and children also chant: "On February 2, the dragon raises its head, the big warehouse is full, and the small warehouse is full." In some places, stove ashes are spread into large circles in the yard, and grains are placed in the middle, which is called "beating". "Hoard" or "fill in".

Chinese people believe that the dragon is an auspicious creature, responsible for clouds and rain, and the second day of February in the lunar calendar is the day when the dragon wants to ascend to the sky. In terms of solar terms, the beginning of the second month of the lunar calendar is between the "Rain", "Jingzhe" and "Spring Equinox", and many places in our country have begun to enter the rainy season. This is a natural law, but the ancients believed that this was the contribution of the "dragon". Moreover, the dragon has a very high status in the minds of the Chinese people. It is not only an auspicious thing, but also the master of peace, weather and rain. Therefore, there is a saying that "on February 2, the dragon raises its head".

Food Customs of Dragon Head Head Festival

The food of Henan Dragon Head Head Festival is very particular. On the morning of the festival, pancakes and fried foods are eaten, or paired with fried noodles, oil tea, or noodles. The soup and cake are called dragon scale cake. "Yanjing Chronicles" also has such a record: "February 2nd is the festival of harmony in ancient times. Today, people call it dragon raising its head. Those who eat solar eclipse cakes are called dragon scale cakes, and those who eat noodles are called dragon scale cakes." "Dragon Beard Noodles." It seems that this custom has existed since ancient times. Some people eat dumplings at noon and afternoon, and some eat noodles and drink wontons.

In the Puyang area, it is forbidden to eat noodles on this day. It is said that eating noodles on this day will "drop worms into the pot." In Guangshan counties in southern Henan, they eat fried meat, bacon and fried stuffing. On this day, we also have to fry jelly beans and fried popcorn. People in Runan and Queshan areas steam a long cylindrical pot with a date on each end, which is called "Budai strip". In the Zhumadian area, it is believed that the stuffing made of shredded red and white radish mixed with noodles and fried in oil is called "Jian Can Claw", which can remove the poison of Can Claw. Drinking noodle soup means there are many faucets, indicating that there will be no shortage of rain that year. Fried noodles and tea are called "paste wolf eyes". It is said that the festival of frying soybeans and popcorn is the work of the kind-hearted Jade Dragon in the Heavenly Palace. The story spread around Sanmenxia is even more beautiful: "The Jade Dragon from the Heavenly Palace violated the orders of the Jade Emperor by raining down rain on the people in order to eliminate drought among the people. The Jade Emperor pressed it under the stone mountain and claimed that 'it can only be released when the golden beans bloom.' In order to save the Jade Dragon, people fry soybeans and fried popcorn during the Dragon Head Festival to celebrate the "golden beans blooming". "There is also a saying that eating scorpion urine is called "chewing scorpion urine". Folks believe that after the second day of February, the stinging insects revive and the scorpions will move around. If the scorpions fry and eat their urine, they will no longer be able to cause harm to humans.

It is said in the Yancheng area that pancakes are made to support the local black dragon in Black Dragon Pond in defeating the yellow dragon.

However, it is said in Puyang area that the Yellow Dragon from Huanglongtan defeated the Black Dragon:

Legend has it that a long time ago, the Dragon King of the East China Sea had a prince named Huanglong. Because he violated the palace rules, he was kicked out of the Dragon Palace and had no place to go. He came to a low land directly south of the Six Pagodas in Qingfeng County, Huaiyang, and settled down temporarily. As time went by, Huanglong became connected with the people here. It rained early and the weather was waterlogged, but the weather here was always smooth, the fields were green, and the harvest was good. The common people called this slope and depression Huanglongtan. Later, Huanglongtan became one of the eight scenic spots in Qingfeng County.