The daily annual custom | the fourth day of the Chinese New Year: coinciding with the spring of Li

Today is the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

The fourth day of the first year is "Sheep Day", and the traditional customs of this day are mainly: "throwing poverty"; eating "folding baskets"; welcoming the stove king; and "grabbing the head of the road".

Early in the morning of the fourth day of the first year, people get up to clean up, clean up inside and out, and also put the garbage collection and pile in one place, ready to throw it away, commonly known as "throwing away the poor".

Then the whole family ate the "folding basket" together. The so-called "folding basket" is a smorgasbord of meals left over from the previous few days. This custom means that in the coming year, there will be no worries about eating and wearing, and attracting wealth and treasure.

Welcoming the god of Vesta is a "major event" in the folk custom of the fourth year. Since the twenty-third or twenty-fourth day of the waxing moon to send the stove jun, to the fourth day of the New Year, in the past, every household had to welcome the stove jun back to the world, so the owner of each family prepared rich fruits, lit candles and incense, and welcomed the stove jun.

Another "big thing" in the fourth custom is to receive the god of wealth. It is said that the fifth day of the new year is the birthday of the god of wealth, so people follow it before the fourth day of the first year. The name is "grabbing the road head", also known as "receiving the god of wealth", the god of wealth has "five roads", so it is also known as "receiving the five roads of the god of wealth".

In the afternoon of the fourth day of the first year, people begin to make preparations, and by ten o'clock in the evening, everything is ready. When he reached the fifth son, he opened the gate and window, burned incense and candles, and set off firecrackers and fireworks to welcome the god of wealth.

In the past, ordinary people in Guangzhou received the god of wealth, the ceremony was relatively simple, and the rich family was solemn. Generally, three eight immortal tables are used, and the two eight immortal tables are put together first. The first table is placed with fruits, such as oranges, sugar cane, etc., which means that the source of wealth is wide and life is sweet; the pastries on the second table mean that they are rising step by step. Three tables for the main seat, placed all pigs, whole chicken, whole fish and yuanbao soup, as well as rice, noodles, vegetables, a bowl of "five way rice" inserted a green onion, onion tube inserted a thousand years of red, meaning Xingchong, every year red. The wine and dishes on the third table must be served after connecting with the "Five Ways of Wealth".

Today's fourth day of the Chinese New Year coincides with the spring of Li. The folk customs of Guangzhou on the spring day, Qu Dajun introduced in the "Guangdong New Language, Facts": "On the day of spring, there is a si reverse Gou Mangtu cattle. The name of the hook is spring boy, and the hat is warm in spring, otherwise the spring is cold. The earth cow is red and dry, and black is water. Sprinkle it with red beans and five-colored rice to clear the rash of one year old. Mud stove with native cattle, to fat six livestock. ”

In the past, every New Year's folk would circulate a "Mangshen Spring Cow Map". It is said that this "Map of the Spring Cow of Mangshen" can predict the cold and warm weather: "If the god is barefoot and busy, the spring is late; when the shoes are idle, the spring is early." If the hat is cold, it is warm in spring; if it is warm, it is cold in spring. Obviously, there is no basis for forecasting the weather with such a "Map of the Spring Cow of Mangshen". However, the "Welcoming Spring" and "Fighting Spring" ceremonies on Spring Day have always been very solemn. On this day, everyone from the Secretary of State of Heaven to the governors and county officials must attend the ceremony to show their attention and concern for farming.

This custom gradually evolved into entertainment. At the same time as "welcoming spring", accompanied by song and dance, it is called "dancing spring cow", and people throw spring cows with hemp, beans, rice, wheat, etc., which is called "beating spring cattle". The purpose of "beating spring cattle" is to eliminate the "one-year-old rash".

After "welcoming spring" and "playing spring", Guangzhou people also have to "eat lettuce and spring cakes to welcome anger". "Lettuce" is pronounced "sheng cai", "spring cake" is also called "spring roll", which has the meaning of returning to the earth and all things. One elimination and one greeting, all pay attention to the intention, which is the characteristic of guangzhou people's festival.

Text: Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng reporter Zhong Kui

Pictured: Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng reporter Yang Yaoye

Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor: Li Yani