The second solar term of the year, "rain", happens to meet the "earth day", an important day of the first lunar month, which is an important day for the people, and this kind of overlap is really rare. There is a saying in the ancient agricultural proverb: "If you are not afraid of the rain on the earth, you are afraid of the sunshine of the first ten days", implying that the rain on the tenth day of the first month is a symbol of good luck. So, does the double arrival of rain and earth day this year herald a good harvest and a good year?
In China's profound traditional culture, the 10th day of the first lunar month is regarded as the birthday of the earth. The ancients upheld the reverence for heaven and earth, believing that the ninth day of the first lunar month was a celebration of heaven, and the tenth day of the first lunar month followed was a tribute and prayer for the earth. Since the stone is regarded as the essence of the earth, the stone god is especially revered on this day.
There is an ancient myth that links the stone to the origin of man. According to legend, in the era of Dayu's water control, he angered the mountain god by continuously digging the mountain, and was finally punished and turned into a big bear. One day, when his wife came to deliver food, she was surprised to see a bear instead of her husband. She fled in fear, Dayu gave hot pursuit, and his wife turned into a stone in a panic.
Amazingly, Dayu called his son to this stone, and the stone actually cracked, and out of it came a child, and Dayu named him Qi. This legend has given the stone a special place in folk beliefs and is regarded as a good luck for future generations.
In rural areas, if a child is weak, parents often name him "Shishi", which means that the child can be as tough and healthy as a stone. Some families even let their children recognize the stone as their "godfather", although this practice may seem superstitious in modern times, but it was a way for the ancients to pray for the safety of their children and grandchildren.
On Chinese New Year's Eve, ancient people not only pasted Spring Couplings on the gates, but also attached Spring Couplings to the stone utensils at home, implying that they would be suspended during the Spring Festival to show respect for the stone gods. On the tenth day of the first lunar month, people will take off the spring couplets on the stone tools, which means the end of the Spring Festival and the beginning of work.
In addition, the 10th day of the lunar month is also an important day to worship the god of stone, and people pray for the god to bless their families with the safety of their families. In some places, people also hold grand stone feasts and make various foods named after stones, such as stone cakes, stone cakes, etc., to share with their families. What's even more interesting is that people also look for beautiful stones outdoors and take them home, symbolizing good luck and good luck to bring home.
This year, the 10th day of the first lunar month coincides with the rainy season, which makes this day even more special. The rainy season marks the beginning of the warmer weather, the increase in rain, and the beginning of the recovery of the earth. In the northern region, the breath of spring has filled the air, although you can still see snowflakes fluttering. And in the southern fields, farmers are already busy preparing to plant their spring crops.
In the past, the old people used to use the weather on the tenth day of the first month to harvest a year. They have a unique method: fill a crockpot with water and put a smooth stone on top to let them freeze outside. If the day is cloudy or rainy, and the temperature is low, the stone will not fall into the water; But if it's a sunny day, the temperature rises, the ice melts, and the stones fall into the water. They believe that if the stone falls, it is a sign of warmer weather this year, which is not good for spring crops. Because the temperature is too high in spring, it is easy to lead to the occurrence of the phenomenon of inverted spring cold, which will freeze the crops and affect the harvest. Therefore, the old people often say: "If you are not afraid of the rain on the ground, you are afraid of the first ten days of the sun", expressing their worries about the cold spring.
Of course, food is also essential on this day. Leeks in spring are tender and delicious, making them an excellent ingredient for making dumplings. It is believed that eating dumplings on the rainy day can bring good weather and abundant grains throughout the year. In addition to leek dumplings, there are also different specialties in various places, such as lettuce, peanuts, porridge, etc., all of which imply good luck and a good life.
There is a folk saying: "Eight grains, nine vegetables and ten fruits", when the bell rings on the tenth day of the first month, this day is known as "fruit day". On this special day, tasting auspicious fruits has become the most appropriate way to celebrate.
Apple, because of its homonym between the word "apple" and the word "ping", is endowed with the beautiful meaning of peace and auspiciousness. On the day of the "fruit day", a bite of a crisp and sweet apple is like a whole year of peace and happiness in your mouth.
Persimmon, a fruit that still hangs on its branches in the cold winter, symbolizes good things and a happy life because of its golden color and full fruit. When the "little lanterns" swayed in the cold winter wind, they not only brought warmth to the cold earth, but also sowed seeds of hope in people's hearts.
Dragon fruit, its bright red peel symbolizes a prosperous life, implying that the new year will be full of enthusiasm and vitality. In addition, dragon fruit is also a good product to clear the intestines and moisten the stomach, eat too much greasy food during the Spring Festival, and have a refreshing dragon fruit salad, which can not only relieve greasy but also maintain health.
Pomegranate, this seedy fruit is regarded as a symbol of having many children and grandchildren, implying the prosperity and prosperity of the family. The crystal clear pomegranate seeds are closely connected, as if to tell the importance of unity and harmony.
Orange, because of its homonym between the word "orange" and the word "cheng", means that all wishes come true and everything goes well. This vitamin C-rich fruit is not only sweet and sour, but also has the effect of preventing fire. On a dry spring day, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice will both moisturize your throat and refresh your mind.
In addition to these fruits, there are many other auspicious fruits waiting to be discovered and tasted. On the day of "Fruit Day", you may wish to choose some fruits with good meanings according to your taste and preferences to celebrate this special day. At the same time, you should also be careful not to discard the peel at will, so as not to cause disrespect to the fruit god. Let's start the new year with the auspicious way of Ruiguo!
On the special day of the 10th day of the first lunar month, the people in the northern region have a unique custom - eating noodles. There is an interesting legend behind this, it is said that on this night, the rats have a grand wedding, and in order to maintain a good relationship with these small animals, people eat the noodles early and place the remaining noodles in the corner for the rats to share. It is hoped that by doing so, the female mice will be married and that they will not return to their homes to cause trouble.
As a food with a long history, the origin of the noodles can be traced back to the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. In that war-torn era, in order to solve the problem of food and clothing for the soldiers, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted Wei Qing's suggestion and vigorously reclaimed wasteland and developed agriculture. However, the wasteland is barren, and what crops to grow is a problem.
At this time, a minister named Tsuji offered a miraculous grain. This grain is hardy to both cold and heat, has a short growth cycle, and has a high yield, making it an important ration for soldiers. In order to commemorate the contribution of the Tsuji, the descendants named this grain "Tsunoodle".
There are many ways to eat it, and it is not only delicious, but also carries people's expectations for a better life. On the 10th day of the first lunar month, the common people will make the noodles into exquisite wowotou, which will be steamed and served on the table. It is said that by observing which hole in the wowotou has moisture, you can ** which month of the year has enough rain. Although this method is not scientific, it reflects the ancient people's reverence for nature and their desire for harvest.
Nowadays, with the development of science and technology, people no longer need to rely on celestial phenomena to harvest. However, as a symbol of traditional cuisine and culture, it is still loved by people. On the 10th day of the first lunar month, whether it is to celebrate the wedding of the rat or to pray for a good harvest in the new year, eating a bowl of steaming noodles has become an indispensable custom for the people in the northern region.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the folk have the custom of eating corn porridge. This corn porridge is also known as "golden millet soup" in some places, which means that a little bit of golden millet gathers into a rich golden stream. Although making polenta is simple, each step contains people's cherishing of food and love of life.
The plump kernels are gently peeled off and finely ground with an ancient stone mill. The cornmeal is sifted out for the next day's delicacies, and the larger corn dregs are combined with the crisp white rice to boil into a pot of golden polenta. This golden corn residue rises and falls in the porridge, like a shining little golden stone, which not only adds to the taste of the porridge, but also implies people's expectation of a better life - turning stones into gold, and wishing life to be as rich and fulfilling as this golden millet.
In the past, a bowl of polenta was a rare luxury at the festival. At that time, people were frugal on weekdays, and it was the norm for wild vegetables to satisfy hunger, and only on festivals could they enjoy this bowl of fragrant polenta. Therefore, this bowl of porridge on the tenth day of the first lunar month is not only a delicacy, but also a love of life and an expectation for the future.
I still remember my mother busy at the stove when I was a child. After harvesting the crops, my mother carefully grinds the corn into flour** and uses the leftover corn residue to make delicious corn porridge for us. Although the corn residue was not easy to boil, my mother always patiently stood by the stove, stirring the porridge in the pot and telling us interesting stories. The aroma of the porridge is intertwined with my mother's story, and it has become the most unforgettable and heartwarming image in my memory.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, this day has a special folk custom in some areas - worshipping the land lord. The lord of the land, the god in charge of the land, although his position is not high, but his power cannot be underestimated. He was in charge of the grain harvest of the land and the fortunes of the people. Therefore, on this day, people worship the lord of the land, pray for his blessings and blessings, and hope for a good harvest and abundant wealth in the new year.
Legend has it that the land lord had a soft spot for wine, and we often see him on crutches in TV dramas, and there is a wine gourd hanging on the crutches. The 10th day of the first lunar month coincides with the birthday of the earth, and people celebrate this special day with delicious food and wine. On this day, every family prepares a sumptuous meal to express their respect and gratitude to the landowner.
In addition to worshipping the land lord, there is also a unique folk activity on the tenth day of the first lunar month - roasting lion fire. In Luancheng, Hebei Province, people will light firewood in front of their homes in the evening, and then throw some discarded clothes, shoes and other items into the fire to burn. The flame was blazing, and the family sat around the fire, feeling the warmth and reunion.
Newbie Support Program It is believed that the more the fire rises, the more prosperous the new year will be. At the same time, the roasting fire also has the effect of driving away evil spirits and avoiding harm, which can drive away impurities on the body and pray for a safe and auspicious new year. In the process of roasting the fire, the burned items also have a special meaning. For example, burning items such as brooms and grates symbolizes the old and welcoming the new; The roasted red dates and cushions imply the early birth of a noble son.
There is an ancient legend about the origin of the roasted lion fire. Legend has it that during the Shang Dynasty, Jiang Ziya wiped out the nine-headed pheasant essence. However, this monster has a strong mana, and although the body is dead, the soul is immortal. It hides in the dark clouds in the sky and comes out to feed on the 10th day of the first lunar month every year.
When the nine-headed pheasant essence flies to **, its excrement will fall on **, bringing disaster and misfortune to the local area. It was found that the nine-headed pheasant essence was most afraid of fire, so they lit a fire on the 10th day of the first lunar month to drive it away. Over time, people have forgotten about the existence of the nine-headed pheasant essence, but the custom of roasting lion fire has been passed down to this day.
The folk customs of the 10th day of the first lunar month are rich and colorful, which not only reflects people's awe and gratitude to the gods, but also places people's good expectations and wishes for the new year. These traditional customs not only enrich our cultural life, but also make us cherish and inherit the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.