The twelfth day of the first lunar month is one of the traditional Chinese lunar festivals, and there are several customs and activities on this day, mainly including:
1.Build a lantern shed. In order to welcome the Lantern Festival, people will start to prepare lanterns and lanterns, and set up lantern sheds in lively places to create a festive atmosphere.
2.Point Ding Day. Since "lamp" and "ding" are the same sound in Hakka, the twelfth day of the first lunar month is also known as "Dian Ding Day", which is a day to celebrate the joy of Tian Ding, people will prepare candy and sweet oranges, thank the guests, and hang lanterns in advance to celebrate the reunion.
3.Roast cypress fire. In some areas, cypress branches are lit at dusk, the smoke is filled with fragrance, and families sit around the fire, meaning "ruin", to ward off plague and evil spirits, and to hope that the new year will be safe and sound.
4.Hide scissors. On this day, people hide their scissors to avoid injuries when children play, and also to avoid quarrels and injuries.
5.Collect old shoes. Children go door-to-door to collect used shoes, symbolizing the "evil spirit" in the home, and the old shoes are usually burned in the shape of rat holes to drive away mice.
6.Pinch the mouse's mouth, make noise about the mouse's ears, and chew the mouse's eyes. In some areas, people wrap dumplings in the shape of rats, or use gongs, drums, and firecrackers to make noises to drive away rats.
These customs not only express people's hatred of rats, but also carry the meaning of driving away the hard work of the year and praying for peace, health and prosperity in the new year.