The sixth day of the first lunar month is a unique and interesting custom in ancient China. This festival is mainly to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, and to pray for prosperity and happiness in the coming year. Although there is no exact record of the origin and history of this practice, we can find some clues through ancient documents and folklore. It is said that the "poor ghost" or "poor son" refers to the ancient emperors颛顼He was seen as a symbol of poverty because of his pursuit of unique habits and wearing them only when his clothes were torn. Later, on the last day of the first lunar month, he died, so the descendants held a ceremony on the sixth day of the first lunar month to send away the "poor ghosts" by burning old clothes or cleaning the house to avoid the effects of poverty. Another way to put it is:Jiang ZiyaHis wife betrayed him, so he made her a knightPoor God。Either way, it expresses the ancient people's disgust with poverty and misfortune, as well as their yearning for a better life.
The sixth day of the first lunar month is related to the ancient Chinese concept of the year and the concept of the five elements. According to ancient Chinese concepts, the world is composed of the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, and the sixth day of the first lunar month belongs to the element of fire, representing the rise of yang energy. To "send the poor" on this day means to send away all the poor and shady things and welcome themBrightand a new life of abundance. The sixth day of the first lunar month is also known as "Horse Day" and is traditional in ChinaCulture, the horse symbolizes speed, running, and new beginnings. Therefore, choosing to send the poor on this day also means driving away poverty and misfortune at a rapid pace and ushering in a new life and hope.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, people will carry out a series of rituals and activities to sacrifice to the poor god, meaning to send away poverty and misfortune and welcome the auspiciousness and happiness of the new year. Families will clean the house, especially the corners that are not usually easy to clean, collect garbage and debris, and throw them awayMonkhooddoors or burn. This ritual symbolizes the "will".Poor God"SendMonkhooddoor, drive away the poor spirit of the old year, in order to bring good luck and happiness for the new year.
To make this ritual even more solemn, objects such as paper figurines or boats symbolizing poverty are made in some places and then burned or banished into the river. This symbolic gesture means taking poverty away and making the new year rich and prosperous.
In some areas, there is also the custom of worshipping the toilet god on the sixth day of the first lunar month. Toilets are considered to be places where bad luck gathers, so by cleaning them, people pray for good healthPeace。This custom also symbolizes the removal of filth and uncleanness and the prevention of poverty.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, people in some places will choose to go out or go out to the streets. This behavior has two meanings, one is to represent walkingMonkhooddoors, away from poverty; The second is to hope that the beginning of the new year will attract good luck and wealth.
The sixth day of the first lunar month is considered a good day for the market to open for business, and merchants will choose to reopen on this day. On the one hand, it means ending the Spring Festival holiday and starting a new year's work; On the other hand, it also implies the desire for prosperous business and abundant financial resources.
In addition to the above-mentioned customs, there may be other traditional activities related to "sending the poor" in different regions. For example, some places will make some paper figurines to symbolize poverty, and then burn or banish them to the river to represent the sending of poverty. In addition, there are some places where special ones will be heldDietRituals, such as eating certain foods, signify abundance and prosperity.
In general, the sixth day of the first lunar month is a characteristic custom of the Chinese people, the main purpose of which is to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, and pray for prosperity and happiness in the coming year. On this day, people use a series of rituals and activities to see off poverty and misfortune and welcome the auspiciousness and happiness of the new year.
Sending the poor to the gods: People will clean houses, especially the corners that are not easy to clean, collect garbage and debris, and throw them awayMonkhoodThe door or burning, meaning to send the poor away, drive away the poverty of the old year. In some places, objects such as paper figurines or boats symbolizing poverty are also made, and then burned or banished into the river, symbolically carrying away poverty.
Worship the toilet god: In some areas, people worship the toilet god to clean the toilet and pray for healthPeace。It is also to remove filth and uncleanness and prevent poverty from growing.
Walk outward: In some places, people choose to go out on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year or go out on the streets to represent a stay away from poverty and hope that the New Year will bring good luck and wealth.
Market Open**: The sixth day of the Lunar New Year is considered a good day for business to open, and merchants will choose to reopen on this day, which means that business is prosperous and financial resources are abundant.
In addition to the above customs, there may be specific activities and rituals to send off in different regionsPoor God, such as paper-cutting, sweeping the floor, setting off firecrackers, etc.
In general, the sixth day of the first lunar month is an ancient and distinctiveFolkloreHabits, which reflect people's disgust with poverty and unhappiness, and their yearning for happiness and a better life. Through a series of rituals and activities, people hope to be able to drive away misfortune and welcome prosperity and happiness in the new year.