On the twenty-eighth day of the lunar month, the cake is steamed and the decals are soldThis Chinese folk proverb vividly depicts the traditional customs of the 28th day of the lunar month. On this day, every family will be busy and ready for the upcoming Spring Festival. On the twenty-eighth day of the lunar month, the cake is steamed and the decals are sold
Beating cakes is one of the important customs on the 28th day of the lunar month. The cake is made through a number of processes, including soaking, washing, steaming, and then beating it repeatedly in a special wooden trough until it becomes sticky and tough, and then cutting the cake into chunks or slices. The taste of the cake is soft and glutinous, sweet and delicious, implying a good harvest and reunion. During the Spring Festival, people will give the finished cakes to relatives and friends, conveying blessings and love.
In addition to beating cakes, steamed buns are also one of the important customs on the 28th day of the lunar month. There are many types of steamed buns, and the recipe varies from place to place. In some places, white flour buns are steamed, while in others, multigrain buns are steamed. No matter what kind of bun it is, it means good luck and a good harvest. While steaming steamed buns, people will also make steamed buns of various shapes, such as fish, birds, flowers, etc., to show joy and auspiciousness. During the Spring Festival, people will give steamed buns to relatives and friends to share the fruits of their labor and joy.
Appliqués are another important custom on the 28th day of the lunar month. The so-called "Huahua" is a variety of paper-cuts and stickers. On the eve of the Spring Festival, people will cut out various auspicious patterns of paper cuts or stickers, such as blessing characters, happy characters, fish, birds, etc., and then paste them on doors, windows, walls and other places to show joy and auspiciousness. These flowers not only decorate the house, but also convey people's expectations and blessings for a better life.
The customs of the 28th day of the lunar month are rich and colorful, implying people's good wishes for the New Year and their love for life. On this day, people are not only busy preparing all kinds of food and decorations, but also cleaning the house and sorting out clothes to fully prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival.
In many parts of China, the 28th day of the lunar month is also a day to worship the god of the stove.