Wenzhou’s customs on February 2nd include: eating shepherd’s purse rice, blocking street blessings, shaving dragon heads, etc.

1. Eating shepherd's purse rice

Eating mustard rice on the second day of the second lunar month is a widely circulated custom among Wenzhou folk, and there is a saying that "eating mustard rice will not cause scabies". "Ruian County Chronicles" says, "When cooked with mustard greens, it can improve eyesight, which means it can clear essence." Mustard rice condiments include shredded pork, shredded mushrooms and dried shrimps. At the same time, mustard rice is also a must-eat meal for Yongding Hakka people on the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

2. Street Blessing

The "February 2nd Street Blessing" in Ningcun, Longwan, Wenzhou is a unique folk traditional cultural festival in Longwan District and is also an ancient street blessing in my country. one of them. It is said that in the 40th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1561), the Japanese invasion of Zhejiang was basically eliminated. In order to commemorate Tang He's grace, pray for peace, and pursue a better future, people held a "blocking the street to pray" ceremony on the second day of February when the dragon raises its head. , the entire event lasts for two days.

3. Shaving the dragon's head

As the saying goes, "If the dragon doesn't raise its head, it won't rain." The dragon is an auspicious thing and the master of peace, weather and rain. On the second day of the second lunar month, people pray that the dragon will raise its head, make clouds and make rain, and nourish all things. This is known as the saying "shave the dragon's head on the second day of the second lunar month". Chinese people generally believe that shaving your head on this day will bring you good luck and good luck. Therefore, a folk proverb says, "Shaving your dragon's head on February 2 will bring you good spirits throughout the year."

The origin of eating mustard rice on February 2nd

In Wenzhou, Zhejiang, there is a custom of eating mustard rice on the second day of the second lunar month. There is an interesting legend about this custom. One day Emperor Qianlong went to a farmer's home in southern Zhejiang incognito to investigate the public sentiment. He found a young man named Zhang who had read poetry and books. Because his family was poor, he was unable to go to Beijing to take the exam, so he had to study poetry and books at home. Zhang was very hospitable and invited Emperor Qianlong to have a simple meal. Just as he was preparing to cook, Zhang found that there was not enough rice in the rice vat and there were no dishes.

Zhang suddenly took advantage of the opportunity and made a plan. He asked his wife to prepare the fire first, then he went out from the back door to the vegetable garden, peeled a handful of green and tender mustard greens, added some seasonings, and cooked it into a pot of green mustard rice with white in it. Emperor Qianlong was accustomed to eating delicacies from the mountains and seas, and raw seafood. By noon, he was already hungry. As soon as he smelled the fragrant mustard rice, his appetite increased. He ate it with gusto and praised it full of praise. That day happened to be the second day of the second lunar month. , the custom of eating mustard rice on February 2 has been passed down since then.

There is also a record in "Ruian County Chronicle" (some areas of Wencheng were formerly part of Ruian), "If you take mustard greens and cook them, you can improve your eyesight, which means it can clear your essence." Therefore, every household will cook mustard rice at this time of year.