Today is the second day of the first lunar month
In traditional customs
Today is the day to go back to my parents' home
Married daughters bring their husbands and children with them
Go back to your parents' house to pay New Year's greetings
Go back to your parents' home
On this day, the daughter who returns to her parents' house must bring some gifts and red envelopes to distribute to her parents' children, and have lunch at her parents' house.
Not only that, but in the past, the family would also choose this day to take a family photo. The children would carry carp lanterns to beg for favors.
The custom of returning to their parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year also provides an opportunity for gatherings, so that the sisters who have not seen each other for a long time can catch up on the old days and talk about everyday things.
Eat New Year's dinner
On the second day of the first lunar month, there is also a custom to eat the New Year's dinner. The second day of the first lunar month is also called "the beginning of the year". In terms of food customs, the noon meal on the second day of the first lunar month is called "New Year's dinner", and the dishes are diverse, all of which have auspicious meanings. Chicken is indispensable, roast meat takes "red skin and red strong" to express the meaning of good health, fried rice takes the meaning of "show off your skills", and lettuce, which means "making money", garlic metaphorically means can write and calculate, green onion metaphorically means smart, leeks metaphorically means long and so on.
Sacrifice to the God of Wealth
In the north, on the second day of the first month, the God of Wealth is sacrificed, and on this day, whether it is a commercial store or an ordinary family, it is necessary to hold a sacrifice to the God of Wealth. At noon on this day, we have to eat wontons, commonly known as "ingots soup". Fish and mutton were used for sacrificial offerings. The big merchants of old Beijing have a large number of sacrificial activities on this day, and the sacrifices should be made with the "five major offerings", that is, the whole sheep, the whole chicken, the whole duck, etc., hoping to make a fortune in the coming year.
*: Changchun Evening News WeChat Poster Production: Wang Cong