The tranquility of the early morning is broken by the melodious sound of percussion, the rhythm of gongs and drums, crisp and powerful. The peasants dress up in festive costumes with happy smiles on their faces, and their laughter and gongs and drums mingle to create a warm festive atmosphere. This is the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, a day that is specially commemorated in many rural areas of China, which carries unique customs and taboos, and shows the unique charm of traditional rural festivals.
In the ancient Chinese tradition, the seventeenth day of the first lunar month was given a special meaning, and it was known as "Renri", a term full of mystical overtones. According to ancient legends, it was on this day that the great mythical figure Nuwa completed her feat of creating humanity. As a result, this day is considered a common birthday for mankind, although this claim lacks explicit support from historical documents. However, this beautiful tradition is alive and well in rural areas of China, and various celebrations are held on this day to commemorate this unique day.
So, on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, what are the unique customs and taboos in rural areas?
First of all, on the 17th day of the first lunar month, rural families will cook a bowl of egg noodles, which means to wish their families health and safety during the year. In addition, children are also dressed with multicolored threads, which are said to protect them from diseases and calamities.
On this day, various celebrations are also held in the countryside. One of the most distinctive is the "rat chase" ceremony. Gongs, drums, and firecrackers are used to expel rat symbols in order to ward off evil spirits and welcome good luck in the new year. In addition, there are traditional performances such as dragon and lion dances, singing operas, etc., which attract the surrounding villagers to come to celebrate this special festival together.
Of course, in addition to these interesting customs, there are some taboos on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month. For example, on this day, you can't hit and scold your child, you can't break furniture, you can't cry, etc. It is believed that observance of these taboos guarantees family harmony, happiness and well-being.
However, with the development of modern society, more and more young people have begun to ignore these traditional customs. They consider these taboos and customs to be too cumbersome and not in line with the modern pace of life. But in fact, behind these traditional customs is the rural people's yearning for a better life and the inheritance of traditional culture.
Just as Lu Xun, a famous writer in China, said: "The spirit of the nation is passed down from generation to generation, and this is its life." "The customs and taboos of the seventeenth day of the first lunar month are the embodiment of the national spirit in the countryside. We should cherish and inherit these traditional cultures and let them become the precious wealth of our nation.
In this era of rapid development, let's slow down, return to tradition, and feel those forgotten customs and taboos. Perhaps, in the process, we will discover another beauty in life.
Let's look forward to the arrival of the seventeenth day of the next first lunar month, and look forward to feeling the charm of the traditional rural festival again. At that time, let us gather together to celebrate this festival that belongs to all of us and inherit the excellent culture of the Chinese nation.