Tomorrow is the last day of the year, "the four dishes are not on the table, and the blessing is not in the door"?Don't forget the old traditions
Time flies like a white horse, and seeing that tomorrow is the last day of 2023, as the saying goes: "If the four dishes are not on the table, the blessing will not enter the door." "Don't forget the old traditions. Let's talk about this New Year's Day, which is a earth-shaking day in history. As early as in the Book of Jin, it was mentioned that "Emperor Zhuan took the first month of Mengxia as the yuan", which is the earliest source of New Year's Day. This "yuan" means beginning, which means the first;And "Dan" is literally a sun, the upper "day" represents the sun, and the lower "one" represents the horizon. To put it simply, the sun has just emerged from the horizon, indicating the beginning of the day.
Combined, we become the first day of the new year. In the long history of China, the specific date of New Year's Day varies from dynasty to dynasty. In the past, people regarded the day when Emperor Shun sacrificed heaven and earth and sacrificed Yao as the beginning of the new yearThe New Year's Day of the Xia Dynasty was on the first day of the first month, the Shang Dynasty was on the first day of December, the Zhou Dynasty was on the first day of November, and the Qin Dynasty even *** the first day of the first month. Later, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty formulated the "Taichu Calendar", stipulating that Meng Xiyue (January Month) was the first month, and the first day of Meng Xiyue was called New Year's Day, which was used until the end of the Qing Dynasty. **After its establishment, Sun Yat-sen in order to "go to Xiazheng, so Shun Nong;From the Western calendar, so the statistics", simply set the first day of the first month (New Year's Day) as the Spring Festival, and the Western calendar (Gregorian calendar) January 1 as the New Year. In 1949, the People's Republic of China promulgated January 1 of the Gregorian calendar as New Year's Day, so in China, New Year's Day is also known as the "Gregorian year".
Tokyo Menghualu records: "...... the day before New Year's DayOn the day of the except, you can't simply put some raw vegetables, and then mix them with Fulu wine and fruits, and finally mix them together to make a plate of 'New Year's rice', also called 'New Year's soup'. It must have a sense of ceremony, a sense of picture, and a decent match.
And on the eve of New Year's Day, that is, on the last day of 2023, as the saying goes, "If the four dishes are not served, the blessing will not enter the door", the old tradition cannot be forgotten. Let's take a closer look.
In Chinese culture, fish means that there is more than enough every year, because "fish" and "yu" are homophonic, representing abundance and abundant harvest. Therefore, on the night before New Year's Day, we have to prepare a plate of fish, hoping for a prosperous New Year and a prosperous life.
Moreover, fish also has the meaning of reunion and completeness. At the last dinner of the old year, a fish must be selected intact and undamaged, symbolizing family reunion and fulfillment. In our Chinese culture, reunion and integrity are very important values. If there is a broken or broken fish on the table, it is a bad omen, as it destroys the symbol of reunion and wholeness.
As for tofu, it represents purity and chastity in traditional Chinese culture, which is related to the process of making tofu and its texture. Soybeans are made by a series of processes such as soaking, grinding, boiling, and coagulation, and the whole production process is clean and neat, without adding a little impurity or seasoning. So, tofu itself is a pure food that represents the virtues of purity and chastity.
In addition, tofu is not only soft and delicate in appearance, but also conveys a gentle and pure atmosphere to the touch, making it a symbol of gentleness. In China's folk beliefs, tofu is endowed with the magical power of driving away evil spirits and avoiding evil, so in the New Year or special moments, people often choose tofu as a sacrifice, implying praying for peace and auspiciousness.
In addition to being a symbol of purity and chastity, tofu is also known as "blessing" because of its homonym, which means harvest and fulfillment. In traditional Chinese culture, people pursue auspicious words such as blessing and longevity, and the meaning of "blessing" contained in tofu coincides with this good wish.
Green beans, commonly known as "kidney beans" or "lentils," are a common vegetable. The word "four seasons" in the name gives it the meaning of the four seasons of peace. In Chinese culture, the Four Seasons of Peace represents a year of good health, free from disasters and diseases. This has become people's expectations and wishes for a smooth and healthy new year.
Green beans also contain the meaning of five blessings. In traditional Chinese culture, the "five blessings" include longevity, wealth, well-being, virtue, and good death. Tasting green beans means that the new year will usher in these five kinds of happiness and live a happy and fulfilling life.
According to the record of "Tokyo Menghualu": "The day before New Year's Day ......The market is full of vegetarian food for the gods and Buddhas, and the name is 'Saishen Money'. He also gave vegetarian food to relatives and friends, named 'Jiemeat'. "In one of the vegetarian dishes, green beans become an important part of the recipe, adding a different flavor to the good prayers.
It is no coincidence that cabbage symbolizes "hundred wealth" in traditional Chinese culture. Because "hundred" and "white" are homophonic, and "wealth" and "vegetables" have similar meanings, cabbage is endowed with the beautiful meaning of "hundred wealth". In Chinese culture, Baicai represents wealth and good luck, so tasting cabbage means that the new year will usher in prosperity and good fortune.
In addition, the shape and color of the cabbage also reveal a symbol of auspiciousness and wealth. The cabbage leaves are tightly wrapped around the cabbage, symbolizing the accumulation and protection of wealth, while the whiteness of the cabbage sum symbolizes purity and elegance. Therefore, tasting cabbage also means that the new year will be pure, noble, rich and auspicious.
It is recorded in the "Four Seasons Compendium": "Before New Year's Day, it is advisable to take white lai, white fish and other things, and put them in the hall to worship ancestors and gods. This is to take the meaning of good fortune for all things, in order to pray for a safe and prosperous new year. This traditional custom means that on the day before New Year's Day, white ingredients such as white raiser and white fish are selected for sacrifice, which means that everything is auspicious, and wishes for a safe and prosperous New Year.
In general, the saying on the day before New Year's Day says, "If the four dishes are not served, the blessing will not enter the door", and these four dishes refer to fish, cabbage, green beans and tofu. In terms of practice, you can prepare it according to your personal preferences, after all, you can usher in good luck, and these ingredients are also rich in nutrients, and eating them is good for your health. What do you think of this traditional saying?Welcome to leave a message to discuss!