The twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month is known as the "Warehouse Filling Day" or "Warehouse Filling Festival". Legend has it that the festival was created in honor of a kind-hearted anonymous cang.
When there was a severe drought in the north for many years and the people had no harvest, he resolutely opened a warehouse for relief, and finally chose to burn the warehouse on the 25th day of the first lunar month and gave generously. In commemoration of his good deeds, people designate this day as the Warehouse Filling Festival.
And the 25th day of the first lunar month is also the third of the 24 solar terms - the time of "stunning". This moment reflects the germination and growth of natural organisms in rhythmic changes.
The thunder brought by the sting in the south has become the signature feature of this solar term. With the roar of spring thunder, the temperature has risen significantly, and the rain has increased. At this time, most of the southern region has entered the spring ploughing season, and the appearance of spring thunder indicates the recovery of the earth, and everything begins to flourish.
The climatic characteristics of the stinging in the northern region are slightly different. Due to the difference in geographical location and climatic conditions, the first thunder day in the north is usually not possible until late April of the Gregorian calendar.
During the sting season, most of the north is still cold, the temperature is relatively low, and the rain is relatively scarce. However, with the arrival of the sting, the north gradually warmed up, and the ice and snow began to melt, which created favorable conditions for spring plowing and spring sowing.
As the saying goes: "Fill the warehouse and fill the stinging head, and the harvest is a good year." This sentence vividly expresses the beautiful meaning of the Warehouse Filling Festival and the Surprise Festival.
The barn-filling festival is a traditional celebration to pray for a good harvest, and people look forward to the abundance of farmland with great anticipation. As the proverb goes, "When it comes to the Surprise Festival, the hoe does not stop", vividly describing the scene during the busy farming period.
When these two vibrant festivals meet, it inevitably brings people full of hope for a good harvest and a good sign that the new year will usher in a good harvest and fruitful fruits.
In 2024, due to the early start of spring, the Surprise Festival will come early, and the Surprise Festival itself is not common in the first month, and it meets on the same day as the Warehouse Filling Festival, which is even rarer.
The 25th day of the first month of 2024 is not only the season of surprise, but also the "warehouse filling day", whether busy or not, it reminds everyone to prepare early to welcome the smooth year of the dragon.
1.Stir-fried soybeans.
On this day, there is the custom of frying soybeans, also known as "fried insects", because the ancients believed that when frying soybeans, the crackling sound of beans in the pot, like the sound of insects struggling under heat, symbolizes the removal of pests, the protection of crops from pests, and the ensurance of a bumper harvest of grains. This reflects the psychological expectations and prayers of ancient agrarian societies for the prevention of pests and diseases.
The shape of the soybeans is quite round, which means "rolling in", which means that good luck and wealth are coming. At this time, it is the beginning of spring ploughing, and everyone hopes for a good harvest in the new year, so they will fry soybeans and pray for these good things.
2.Sweep the fields. When it comes to "sweeping the fields", that is, "sweeping insects", it is quite popular in some rural areas. The custom is to sweep the fields around with a broom, which means to sweep away pests and protect the crops. In fact, this is just a psychological suggestion, and in this way farmers hope to pray that their crops will be free from pests and ensure a good harvest.
3.Dry rice with fish broth.
As the saying goes, filling the warehouse on the twenty-fifth day of the first month means that there is enough food to be prepared on this day. Dry rice refers to rice, and fish soup is usually made with fresh crucian carp.
On the day of the Warehouse Filling Festival, every household will cook a large pot of rice and a pot of delicious fish soup, and the whole family will sit together to share this delicious taste. This way of eating is not only delicious, but also means a bright future.
In traditional Chinese cuisine, rice is one of the indispensable staple foods, symbolizing a good harvest and abundance. Fish soup, on the other hand, is believed to help boost physical strength and immunity due to its rich nutrients. The clever combination of the two not only satisfies people's taste buds, but also expresses the desire and blessing for a better life.
4.Ground painting warehouse hoarding.
On the day of the Silo Filling Festival, farmers will create a pattern on the flat land that symbolizes a full barn, usually round or oval, with a slight bulge in the middle, symbolizing a good harvest of granaries. Subsequently, the grains (such as rice, wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, etc.) will be placed in the pattern ** and pressed with weights such as stones or bricks to protect them from the wind.
In some places, people will also fill the dustpan with plant ash, and by hitting the edge of the dustpan evenly with a stick, the plant ash will float down in the air, forming a variety of beautiful circle patterns, some showing a three-ring set, some a five-ring set.
These circles symbolize a good harvest and abundant reserves, as if they were a symbol of a granary or grain hoard. Through these unique ceremonies, people share the hope of a fulfilling and prosperous future.
The Warehouse Filling Festival is an ancient traditional custom that embodies people's good wishes and expectations for a good harvest. In this festival, people will not only outline the shape of grain reserves on the ground, but also place whole grains in anticipation of a bumper harvest and sufficient food in the new year, ensuring food for families and society.
In the past, it was especially important in agrarian societies, where people's standard of living depended largely on the harvest of crops. In order to ensure that families are self-sufficient and live a carefree life in the new year, various stockpiling activities are carried out on the day of the barn filling festival, including restocking the food reserves.
In addition to adding food to the granary, people also go to the market or bazaar to buy daily necessities such as oil, salt, coal, firewood, and bedding. These items are indispensable in daily life, so buying and stocking up on them can ensure that families don't get stuck with a lack of these basic necessities for some time to come.
However, with the progress of modern society and the improvement of people's living standards, some areas may gradually dilute or lose the traditional custom of this barn-filling festival. But in any case, as a part of traditional Chinese culture, this custom is still worthy of our in-depth understanding and inheritance.