The 25th day of the lunar month is an important day in Chinese folk traditions. On this day, the rich smell of beans fills the kitchen of every house, because it is customary to start making tofu on this day. However, in addition to the well-known custom of grinding tofu, there are many other traditional customs on the 25th day of the lunar month. Today, let's explore these distinctive customs and feel the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture.
1. Grinding Tofu: The Cultural Meaning Behind the Deliciousness.
Grinding tofu on the 25th day of the lunar month is a part of traditional Chinese culture. Tofu was highly prized in ancient China as a nutritious and easily digestible food. Behind the custom of grinding tofu, there is also a rich cultural meaning. First of all, the word "fu" in tofu is homophonic with the word "fu", which means "blessing". Secondly, tofu is white and flawless, symbolizing the quality of innocence and purity. In addition, the production process of tofu requires multiple processes such as careful selection of soybeans, careful grinding, and patient boiling, which is the embodiment of the "craftsmanship spirit" pursued by the Chinese.
2. The twenty-fifth day of the lunar month: colorful customs.
1.Pasting windows: On this day, people will replace old window paper with new paper with paste, which symbolizes the beginning of the new year, driving away bad luck, and praying for good luck in the coming year.
2.Receiving the Jade Emperor: In some places, people will worship the Jade Emperor on this day and pray for good weather and abundant crops in the coming year. People would set up incense sticks in their homes with statues of the Jade Emperor and various offerings.
3.Hoarding: In some areas of the north, people will sprinkle circles in the yard with plant ash or chaff on this day, called "hoarding", which means a good harvest of grains and a prosperous family. At the same time, people also put some grains and coins in their hoards in the hope of bringing good luck and wealth.
4.Rush the chaotic year: In some places, the 25th day of the lunar month is still a good time for unmarried men and women to go shopping and go on blind dates. This day is also regarded as the "Day of Trouble", and married women should not go out on this day.
5.Silkworm Teruma: In the Gangnam region, torches are lit on this day to illuminate the fields and silkworm chambers and pray for a good harvest and prosperous agriculture in the coming year. This custom is also known as "burning silkworms".
6.Eating box dishes: In some places, people put various ingredients in beautiful food boxes on this day and give them to each other. Eating boxed dishes is not only a way to share food, but also a way to express blessings and friendship.
In modern society, many traditional customs may gradually be forgotten or ignored. However, these customs not only carry rich cultural connotations, but also are an important part of the inheritance of Chinese civilization. On the basis of maintaining traditions, we should integrate these customs with modern life and make them better integrated into modern society. For example, we can add some innovative elements to make tofu at home, such as adding fruit and vegetable juice or chopped nuts, to make tofu more delicious and nutritious; We can also spread these traditional customs through social media and online platforms, so that more people can understand and participate in these activities.
The 25th day of the lunar month is an important day for Chinese folklore, and in addition to the well-known custom of grinding tofu, there are many other traditional customs. These customs are not only a manifestation of cultural inheritance, but also a yearning and pursuit of a better life. Let us feel the charm of these traditional customs and inherit the spiritual core of Chinese civilization.