Rongcheng, at the eastern end of the Shandong Peninsula, has the custom of pinching zodiac animals on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Folks call it "Kneader".

The traditional method is to use soybean flour as the material for pinching the zodiac signs.

The shapes are small and exquisite, and the postures of the zodiac animals can be upright, lying, running, or flying, all based on improvisation.

However, no matter what the shape is, it must be designed and arranged with some vegetable seeds and leaves to symbolize "a good harvest".

Each zodiac sign carries a lamp bowl on its back. The bowl is filled with oil and a small stick wrapped with cotton wool is inserted into it. This is commonly known as "Yao Nian".

The shapes of the lamp bowls are different; horses and pigs carry "yuanbao bowls", and the "golden colts, silver pigs carrying treasures" are the lucky ones.

Other zodiac signs carry "twelve petals" lamp bowls, symbolizing the four seasons and twelve months of the year.

The rule of pinching the zodiac sign is based on the zodiac sign of the family members. Each person picks one. On the 15th night, they put it on a plate and light it together in the main room. Everyone watches around, hoping that the lanterns will explode. The bigger the lanterns, the more auspicious they are, heralding the new year.

great harvest.

According to custom, whoever's zodiac lantern burns the longest will have good luck and live a long life.

The customs of eating "dumplings" and "keeping up the New Year's Eve" in Weihai are celebrated by the whole family from all over the world, which gives the festival the meaning of reunion.

The Chinese New Year has always been about reunion, regardless of the distance. On New Year's Eve, everyone has to rush back to their hometown to reunite. If they really can't go back, they have to send a letter back to say that they are safe.

This is what the old people call "every day and every year".

Qi means togetherness and reunion.

After reunion, eating is the most important thing. Therefore, "New Year's dinner" occupies a very important part of the New Year culture.

"New Year's Eve" refers to the meal of "dumplings" served at midnight on New Year's Eve.

This dumpling meal is different from the usual ones and has the meaning of "Jiaozi" in which the old and the new are replaced at midnight.

At that time, no one was sleeping, and everyone was waiting for the arrival of the new year. This was to "stay up late", commonly known as "staying up late".

When the time comes and I eat the dumplings, I become one year older.

Therefore, this meal is also called "increasing the age of the rice". When it comes to making dumplings, you must pay attention. At this time, you cannot call it "dumplings" as usual, because the word "下" is unlucky. People who can speak can call it "cooking gold with clear water".

silver".

When cooking dumplings, in order to seek good luck, sometimes a man will ask a woman abruptly: "Do you make money?", and the quick response is "Yes, you make it, you make your old nose."

Earn means broken.

But here it means making money.

For good luck, people also wrap copper coins in dumplings, and some also wrap red dates, which are called "big money dumplings".

Only a dozen or so big money dumplings are made, and those who eat them will win the big prize, which symbolizes good fortune and good fortune this year.

In a broad sense, New Year's Eve refers to what people eat and drink before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

In addition to steamed dumplings, the main types of pasta are steamed cakes, which means more and more, and rice cakes, which means more and more.

During the Chinese New Year, everything is auspicious. Food, drink, and food all had another name at that time.

For example, "garlic" is called "Yihe cuisine", and "vinegar" is called "taboo".

Garlic powder and jealousy are both unlucky.

Change it to follow the flow, speak smoothly, and follow your little nature.

February 2: Commonly known as February 2, the dragon raises its head. On this day, people cut dragons and phoenixes out of colored paper, and stick the flowers on the station or on the window, which is called "window decoration." On this day, people cut squares of floral cloth and string them together, which is called "window decoration."

The "little dragon's tail" hangs on the heads of children and livestock.

Cold Food: On the day before Qingming Festival, it is said that cold food and fire are forbidden, and graves are visited to pay homage. Only a few people in Weihai (Zabu) celebrate this festival.

Qingming Festival: On this day, people go to cemeteries to pay homage to their ancestors, and women steam noodles to signify the arrival of warm spring.

Dragon Boat Festival: On this day, people eat eggs, duck eggs, palm seeds, and hang mugwort, garlic, peach branches and Bubie monkeys on their doors. Children’s fingers and toes have five colored threads to drive away evil spirits and bad luck. Zhong Kui is the god of the Dragon Boat Festival.

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June 6th: On this day, people eat more steamed buns. There is a folk song of "Watching the Valley Show on June 6th, a bowl of steamed buns and a bag of meat." Many wealthy families dry their clothes in the sun here, and many people who study here come here.

Sun drying books.

July 7: In ancient mythology, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet at the Tianhe River. On this day, people bake noodles and fruit, and women set up an incense table in the middle hall to beg for wisdom from the Vega, which is called "begging for cleverness."

Zhongyuan: The 15th day of the seventh lunar month, also known as the Ghost Festival. Fruits and snacks are often offered as offerings to commemorate the deceased. Fishermen at sea light sea lanterns at this night to attract the souls of the dead. Merchants regard this day as the "God of Wealth Festival"

, offer sacrifices to the God of Wealth, and pray for wealth.

Mid-Autumn: On this day, people eat moon cakes to pray for reunion. After dinner, people eat moon cakes while admiring the moon.

Double Ninth Festival: The ninth day of the ninth lunar month, also known as the Double Ninth Festival. On this day, the ancients steamed noodles and cakes, brewed chrysanthemum wine, climbed high and traveled wildly, and enjoyed a long life by relaxing their minds.

Half-day of October: The first day of October in the lunar calendar. On this day, many descendants of the same surname go to their ancestors’ tombs to offer sacrifices.

Winter Solstice: One of the twenty-four solar terms. The cold winter is coming, which means too much. In this month, ancestors are worshiped at home.

Laba Day: the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, it is a festival for monks and spread to the people. On this day, people eat porridge cooked with rice, beans, dates and other grains, called "Laba porridge".

Xiaonian: On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, each household offers maltose and jujubes to the Kitchen God, which is called Cizao.

I wish the Kitchen God that "God will say good things, and the lower world will be safe."

New Year's Eve: The last day of the twelfth lunar month is New Year's Day. New Year's Eve is the night of the last day of the year in the lunar calendar. At midnight, the heaven and earth, ghosts, gods and ancestors are worshipped.