I introduced the customs from the first day to the seventh day of the new year, and there are corresponding festivals and customs every day. In fact, during the Spring Festival, there are "big festivals and small festivals", and the eighth day of the first lunar month is no exception, which is also a special day for traditional festivals in the mainland.
This day is not only the birthday of the millet, but also known as the "Shunxing Festival", and there are many customs on the eighth day of the new year, and it is also a special day that can predict the fortune of the year. There is a special custom among them, which is estimated to be unacceptable to people nowadays, do you know what it is? Let's find out!
1. The eighth day of the first lunar month is Guzi's birthday: from the creation legend of Nuwa
There were festivals from the first day to the seventh day of the previous lunar month, and the eighth day of the lunar new year was Guzi's birthday. This is mainly derived from the creation legend of Nuwa.
According to ancient books such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Nuwa created chickens, dogs, pigs, sheep, cows, horses and other animals from the first day of the first lunar month to the sixth day of the first lunar month, and humans on the seventh day.
After the emergence of human beings, Nuwa also created "cereal" crops on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, which provided human beings with a staple food other than meat.
Therefore, the eighth day of the first lunar month is regarded as the birthday of the grain, and an important custom on this day is to worship the tablet with the name of the grain written on it, and not to eat the cooked grain. These consultations not only reflected the great importance that the ancients attached to agriculture and food, but also expressed the theme idea of cherishing food at that time.
2. The eighth day of the first lunar month is also the "Shunxing Festival": a special festival to predict the luck of the year
On the eighth day of the first lunar month in ancient times, it is still an important festival of Taoism, and it is believed that on the eighth day of the first lunar month, all the stars are in the lower realm, and every household has to make a small lamp on the same day to burn and sacrifice it, which is called Shunxing, also known as "sacrificing the star" and "receiving the star".
It is especially worth mentioning that at that time, according to Taoism and astrologers, each person had a star for the year every year, also known as the "Passing Year Destiny Star" (the nine stars of the sun, moon, water, fire, wood, metal, earth, Luohou, and Jidu took turns to be on duty according to the year). And what is the fate of each person in a year is completely in the hands of this star on duty, and the eighth day of the first month of each year is the period of the gathering of the stars and the day of the "lower realm of the stars", so it is possible to obtain the blessing of the stars by sacrificing the stars (that is, shunxing) on this day.
Therefore, this day is also considered a festival that can predict the luck of the year. In addition, according to Dongfang Shuo's "Book of Occupations", the weather conditions on the eighth day of the first lunar month can predict the rice harvest of a year. A sunny day is a sign of a bumper rice harvest and peace in the country, while a cloudy day may indicate a bad year and more effort is needed to reap the fruits.
3. Introduction to the customs of "Valley Day".
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the "Valley Day", the ancients would hold a series of special customs. One of the most unique is the worship of the tablet with the name of the grain written on it, and the fact that cooked grain is not eaten on this day.
This custom not only reflects the great importance that the ancients attached to agriculture and food, but also expressed their awe and gratitude for the nature of heaven and earth.
To modern people, this custom may seem a little difficult to understand and accept. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to eat uncooked food every day, but in ancient times, this custom was widely spread. Therefore, this custom is difficult for many people to accept in modern times, and it has been lost.
However, we can still draw wisdom and inspiration from it. Today, when material life is becoming more and more abundant, we should cherish food, respect the fruits of labor, and at the same time maintain awe and gratitude for the natural environment.
Fourth, other customs on the eighth day of the first lunar month: release, opening, and worship of the eight immortals
In addition to the above-mentioned customs related to millet and shunxing, there are other colorful customs on the eighth day of the first lunar month.
For example, in some places, people perform animal release activities on this day. As early as the Ming Dynasty, there was a "release" activity on the eighth day of the first lunar month, and the release of life was to pray for blessings.
Liu Tong of the Ming Dynasty recorded in the "Imperial Scenery and Things": "On the eighth day of the first month, Shi Pei Lane was released, cage birds and birds, potted fish and shrimp, basket snails and mussels, in front of Luo Tang, monks did Sanskrit, thousands of each other, vertical feathers flew in the air, sin fell on the house, moved time is gone, water and the like are cast into the imperial city Jinshui River net bamboo shoot bait is wanted. ”
The fish, insects, birds and beasts caught are released back into nature, implying respect for life and harmonious coexistence.
In addition, the eighth day of the first month is also an auspicious day for some businesses to open, because eight is an auspicious number, and the meaning is good, so the opening on the eighth day of the first month means that the new year is prosperous and the wealth is rolling.
It is worth mentioning that the eighth day of the first lunar month is also a day to respect the eight immortals. The Eight Immortals are mythological figures in traditional Chinese culture, and each of them represents different virtues and qualities. On this day, people prepare delicacies and fruits to worship the eight immortals, praying that they will bless themselves and their families with good luck, longevity and well-being.
In addition, it is also influenced by this tradition, and on the eighth day of the first lunar month, there is also the custom of going out to "travel to the eight immortals". On this day, people will leave their hometowns and go to other places to develop and work hard.
The eighth day of the first lunar month, as the birthday of the millet and the dual identity of the Shunxing Festival, occupies a special position in the traditional Chinese festivals. These colorful customs not only reflect the ancient people's understanding and awe of agriculture, food and astronomy, but also inherit their pursuit and yearning for a better life. #天南地北大拜年#