The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is the traditional Laba Festival every year. On this day, people eat porridge "Laba porridge" made of grains and peanuts, jujube, chestnuts, lotus seeds and almonds. Many people have to peel some garlic and soak it in vinegar to pickle "Laba garlic". Laba Festival has been paid attention to as early as the pre-Qin period, and later it has been integrated into the content of Buddha's enlightenment, making it even more important. From this day on, no matter how children set off firecrackers, there is no taboo (before, except for special happy events, if firecrackers were set off on ordinary days. People will mistakenly think that someone has died or there are other things, which makes people feel awkward or even embarrassed. ), and after this date, there is nothing to be done, and it will be regarded as auspicious.
The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month also means that the New Year has entered the countdown. From this day on, every family should clean their houses and prepare for the arrival of the New Year. In some places in the north, there is also a mother's example: (It is on Laba Festival that all married women can't eat at their parents' home. This is of course superstitious and has long been unacceptable to young people. Of course, it makes sense to think about it carefully: some young and energetic couples quarrel and run away from their parents' homes. The embarrassing situation near the end of the year will be broken, and the young couple and their parents will just take this opportunity to take their daughter-in-law home or send her daughter back to her husband's house. This is undoubtedly good for family harmony, and those statements about what is not good for who are naturally unreliable. What's more, many young people now have to face four old people at the same time, so it is more necessary to get rid of superstition and establish a more civilized new fashion.
The 23rd year of the twelfth lunar month
On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, it indicates that the year has entered a small climax. It has long been an unchangeable custom that candied melons offer sacrifices to the stove and steam rice cakes to send the kitchen god to heaven. Kitchen God is the legendary head of the family, who is in charge of recording the merits and demerits of the whole family. It is also responsible for protecting the peace and health of a family. Legend has it that on the 23rd of each month, the Kitchen God will report the family's affairs to the Heaven Emperor, and the Heaven Emperor will reward and punish everyone's merits and demerits according to the laws of heaven.
Especially the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month in the last month of the end of the year is an even more important day. On this day, every household should steam rice cakes to worship the kitchen god. Sticky food also means that it can stick to the kitchen god's mouth, so as not to let him talk more and talk less in front of the emperor. In addition, candied melons should be used to sacrifice to the kitchen god, so that the kitchen god can speak "sweetly" and say more good things. Haha, this seems to be the embryonic form of the earliest cause of "corruption" caused by bribery. But in any case, this is people's hope for a better life. I remember there is a saying that "women don't sacrifice stoves and men don't Yue Bai". But I don't quite understand which allusion it comes from and how it came from.
in addition to the above-mentioned celebration customs, every household should set off firecrackers that can run high to show that the kitchen god can climb the mountain smoothly. In short, on this day, all words or things that can express elevation, even a word, are auspicious and welcome.
Writing Spring Festival couplets from the 24th to 26th of the twelfth lunar month
During the 24th to 26th of the twelfth lunar month, people not only continue to buy new year's goods to catch up with big gatherings; Then ask someone or write some auspicious Spring Festival couplets yourself. Of course, there is everything in the market now, and people who are rich will not hesitate to spend money to buy these essential mascots.
Twenty-eight White Flour Hair
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, every household began to get busy. In addition to making snacks with local characteristics, they also had to make steamed buns or various kinds of pasta symbolizing good luck. In addition, the steamed bread should be marked with red dots with food color to show good luck.
Posting Taoist couplets on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, every household should get rid of the Spring Festival couplets and door gods of the old year on the doors and windows, and put on new and more colorful door gods and bright red Spring Festival couplets. Wang Anshi in the Song Dynasty once wrote a poem: The sound of firecrackers is one year old, and the spring breeze sends warmth into Tu Su. Thousands of families change new peaches into old ones every day, and the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival is vividly described. In some areas in the north, people have to stew meat and steam vegetarian stuffed buns in the morning.
Lunar New Year's Eve
Lunar New Year's Eve falls on the 3th or 29th of the twelfth lunar month, which is the moment when the last day of the old year and the first day of the new year are connected. The ancients once wrote a poem praising, "Even being two years old in one night is divided into two years in the evening.".
In the southwest suburb of Tianjin in the north, most people steamed vegetarian stuffed buns on this morning. The stuffed buns are mainly made of Chinese cabbage, accompanied by condiments such as day lily, tremella, bean skin, fine vermicelli, vermicelli skin, red fermented bean curd, coriander, fried dough sticks or gluten sesame oil, and firecrackers should be set off at breakfast to show congratulations. After breakfast, all the children should wear new clothes, and the girls should wear beautiful silk flower or velvet flowers. Setting off firecrackers is a boy's "work", which is taken apart one by one and lit with long incense or string and thrown into the air. So the smell of gunpowder wafted in the air all day. After breakfast, men in each surname family have to go to worship their ancestors and go to the grave. Groups of people carry incense sticks, burn paper and firecrackers to worship their ancestors or ancestral halls. At the worship ceremony, the oldest elderly people with generations burn incense and toast their ancestors to pay homage, and then they salute their ancestors in order of age and set off firecrackers to show that they celebrate the New Year with their ancestors (in some places, there is also a ceremony to invite their ancestors to go home for the New Year, and then a ceremony to send them to God will be held after the New Year). After the ancestor worship, women of all families have to burn paper for their relatives who died in their mother's family to show their memory of their deceased relatives and celebrate the New Year. Of course, many customs of burning paper on graves are superstitious and pollute the air. However, it also contains the fine tradition of respecting the elderly and ancestors of the Chinese nation, so it is necessary to advocate a more civilized form of sacrifice and sweeping.
In the afternoon, it's the most reunion and lively dinner for the whole family in a year. People who have been busy for a year are sitting on their kang, tasting rich dishes, talking with their parents, brothers, wives and children about the gratifying harvest in the past year and imagining a better life in the future. When it's dark, every household lights up and lights up, and the group sits together to make dumplings and watch the New Year Gala. Children flock to the streets of Hutongli to play lanterns, play games and set off firecrackers. According to the old tradition, some families have to worship the god of heaven and earth and increase the god of wealth at the moment of giving birth. Therefore, it is necessary to make the dumpling stuffing for god worship first, and wrap it and cover it with clean yellow paper first. (Dumpling stuffing is mainly made of cabbage, accompanied by cauliflower, tremella, bean skin, fine vermicelli, red vermicelli skin, red fermented bean curd, coriander, fried dough sticks or gluten sesame oil). The family is talking and laughing, watching the children play some interesting games or listening to firecrackers coming from outside through the window, and watching fireworks rising and exploding in the sky; It's an endless family happiness. On the "Buddha's front table" in the bright hall, there are sacred tablets of the gods of heaven and earth and the gods of wealth. At midnight, a "round furnace" incense was burned devoutly in a incense burner filled with sorghum, and the newly cooked jiaozi was filled with new chopsticks in a new bowl, and three kowtows were kowtowed respectfully before the shrine, praying for good luck and peace for all ages for a year. Then, the gods of heaven and earth will be melted together with the yellow paper and firecrackers will be set off to celebrate. This is also the climax of all the activities in the New Year, and it is just the time to make love (that is, midnight). Legend has it that all the immortals in the sky have come down to earth tonight to enjoy the fireworks and enjoy the fun with all the people in the world. So the new movement of heaven and earth in the same spring and celebrating the whole world was played at this moment. After these ceremonies are completed, the descendants of their own families should kowtow to their parents and elders before God and wish them health and longevity. Old people also give their children lucky money, which should be the most touching and beautiful moment in the world.
the first month: it's new from head to toe
the first day of the first month, the Spring Festival, is the beginning of the New Year, and everything is the latest. In Zhu Ziqing's prose "Spring", there was an emotional description of spring: "A year's plan lies in spring"; Just started, have a plenty of time, have a plenty of hope. Spring is like a newly born doll. It is new from head to toe, and it grows.
On this day, all men, women and children should dress neatly and go out to kowtow to their elders to pay New Year greetings. Then I will pay New Year greetings to my friends and relatives, neighbors and neighbors. Walking around and wishing each other well will create a more friendly atmosphere for future harmony. On this day, crowds of people can always be seen in the streets and alleys, and the words that are heard in the ear are also words of good luck and blessing. This day is also the legendary Chicken Day. It is said that the Emperor Wa created chickens among the six animals on this day.
On the second day of the first month, the God of Wealth and Children's Day are celebrated. The second day of the first month is the day to worship and greet the God of Wealth. People in the early days had to get up early to pick up firewood in the fields (firewood and wealth are homophonic) and tie it neatly with red ropes, and then go to the well or river (the river in the early days was pollution-free and drinkable). ) to draw new water to fill the water tank, symbolizing wealth in the coming year (according to legend, water also symbolizes wealth). Now is the economic era, the pace of people's life has accelerated, and the god of wealth has been connected earlier than before. From the moment when the first day was just handed over, people who were impatient had already been worshipping and welcoming the god of wealth. At this time, people who respect the god of wealth with an increase will have to melt the memorial tablet with the yellow paper. And set off firecrackers to show the success and celebration of the god of wealth. At the first light, the whole family should be dressed up, and then bring gifts to honor their father-in-law, and bring their wives and belts to pay a New Year call to the Yue family. This day is also called Children's Day. In addition, the second day of the second day is also the legendary dog day, and it was on this day that Emperor Wa created the righteous animal "dog".
eat roe deer on the third day of the first month
the third day of the first month is the third day of the new year, and there is a folk saying that roe deer on the third day go home to earn money. That is to say, eating roe deer on this day is a symbol of family harmony, good fortune and smooth work. This day is also the legendary Pig Day, on which Emperor Wa created a pig, one of the six animals.
The fourth day of the first month is the fourth day of the New Year, and people play some family games at home after fun. Such as playing poker, playing mahjong or something. Appropriately adding some small material rewards not only increases the interest of participants, but also adds a happy and festive atmosphere. Although there is not much money, it is integrated with the family relationship that blood is thicker than water. The winner is happy and the loser is happy. This day is also the legendary sheep day, and the Emperor Wa created a gentle sheep on this day.
the fifth day of the first month: this day is "breaking the fifth", which means driving away poverty. Cleaning the house also means sweeping the "five poor" out of the door. In the north, there is also the custom of pinching the mouth of a villain on this day. That is, when it is not bright in the morning, a Chinese cabbage is chopped on the chopping board (which also means chopping the villain to death). Then use this cabbage stuffing to wrap jiaozi, and take jiaozi's "pinch" action as a metaphor for pinching a villain's mouth, which indicates that there is no offense against a villain in a year. But this is, after all, some feudal superstitions that should not be advocated, and people should be sincere in their lives and make friends sincerely. "Little people" will run away without a trace even if they don't use a knife to chop an axe. According to legend, this day is also the legendary ox day, and it was on this day that Emperor Wa created diligent cows.
the sixth day of the first month is also a day to send the poor. According to legend, the poor god is the son of Zhuan Xu, and some say it belongs to Jiang Ziya's wife. Zhuan Xu's son is very weak and short, and likes to wear rags and drink porridge. Even if someone gives him new clothes, he will tear them or burn them out before wearing them. On this day, people will take their rags outside and throw them away or burn them. It means to drive away poverty. Jiang Ziya deified his wife who betrayed him as a "poor god", which made her "return at every break". On this day, people threw away their rags in order to make the poor god avoid them, which may also be the reason for the broken characters of the broken five. This day is also the legendary horse day, and it was on this day that Emperor Wa created horses for people to ride. In addition, many factories and shops will choose to open on this day. On this day, many factories and enterprises will set off many firecrackers to celebrate the opening and pray for peace and good luck. The sound of firecrackers far and near is much better than the excitement of New Year's Eve.
On the seventh day of the first month, people gradually began to work after the New Year, and everyone entered the new year with full spirit and higher enthusiasm. This day is also the legendary Man's Day, and the Emperor was created on this day. Although people have started new jobs on the eighth day of the first month, there is a folk saying that it is still a year before the fifteenth. Therefore, some customs that symbolize auspiciousness are still emerging one after another. On this day, every household wants to eat roe deer. There is an old saying that roe deer and eight are getting worse. The ninth day of the first month is also the day to eat roe deer, and there is a saying that the more wine you drink, the more you drink.
Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month
The 15th day of the first month is the first full moon in the New Year, so there are other names for Lantern Festival and Shangyuan Festival. On this day, every household should steam some auspicious animals such as "Little Hedgehog" and "Little Rabbit", and make them into the shape of haystacks and respectfully put them on the "Buddha's Front Table" for the gods and buddhas to enjoy. On this day, people still have the custom of eating Yuanxiao, while the folk customs in the southwest suburb of Tianjin mostly include jiaozi on this day. In addition, every household, men, women and children, will go to the temple fair in droves. On this day, both the city and the countryside will be decorated with lanterns and hold a grand lantern show. In addition, solve riddles on the lanterns, dragon and lion dancing, roller boating, yangko dancing, stilt walking and other folk flower shows emerge in an endless stream, which is also one of the indispensable activities of the Lantern Festival. During the Lantern Festival, local government departments will also fund some large-scale folk temple fairs and cultural activities, or hold lantern shows and set off fireworks to celebrate happy and peaceful festivals with the people. At night, it is even more lively, and relatives watch all kinds of colored lights together; Appreciating the colorful cultural performances, the joyful atmosphere of the Lantern Festival has reached a new climax.
In addition, there are some examples of mothers on this day: on this day, all married women are not allowed to eat and stay at their parents' homes, saying that it is not good for their fathers; Although this is superstitious, many places have been following this ancient custom. The reason is, after all, more good, which shows that young couples are not only pioneers of entrepreneurship in the new era, but also models of filial piety and respect for the elderly and love for the young. These mothers are superstitious at any time, but it always shows all the young couples that filial piety is always the noblest behavioral virtue of the Chinese nation. Of course, there will be many new problems in the new society, and some old people who are in-laws will try their best to be considerate of the difficulties of young people. Take the initiative to abandon those superstitious mothers and advocate a new fashion that is more active and civilized and can adapt to the ideological trend of the new era. So that the happy Spring Festival will be more harmonious and enjoyable.
The 16th day of the first month is the day to walk away from all diseases.
The 16th day of the first month is the day to walk away from all diseases, and it is also the day for married women to return to their parents' homes. Taking a walk outside on this day will not only make people feel refreshed, but also make people feel comfortable; Therefore, there is still some scientific truth in saying that all diseases can be removed on this day. Whether old people or children, going to the streets and fields to breathe fresh air, flying kites, shaking diabolos, jumping rope, kicking shuttlecock and doing some appropriate activities can not only increase appetite, but also be of great benefit to relaxing bones and muscles.
Filling warehouses on the 25th of the first month
The 25th of the first month is also called Tiancang, which is a folk custom in the southwest suburb of Tianjin. When the day is not bright, people will get up and take some plant ash from the stove chamber and use a dustpan to draw a few big circles in the yard. And put money and grains in it and put them away before dark, which will herald a new year.