Tomorrow is May Day, a holiday that for most modern people means relaxation and travel, but behind this joyful festival there are some little-known traditional customs and taboos. I don't know how much you know?
May Day: The Cultural Code Behind the Holiday
May Day, a statutory holiday, for many people, represents a five-day holiday, and it is a great time to relax and travel. However, in traditional Chinese culture, this year's May Day (March 23 of the lunar calendar) is known as the "Evil Day".
According to the "12 Jianzhi" culture, this day is not suitable for some important events, such as weddings or housewarming. In fact, many newlyweds will choose national holidays to get married, such as May Day, but this year is more special, no one will touch the mold and choose this day to complete their lifelong events.
What is the "Twelve Constructions"?
"Twelve gods of construction" refers to the twelve gods who perform their own duties, in order of building, excepting, full, leveling, fixed, persistent, broken, dangerous, successful, harvested, opened, and closed. According to legend, they take turns on duty every day, and the twelve earthly branches "Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai" correspond according to the laws of the calendar. It divides the days into six auspicious days of the zodiac and six evil days of the underworld. May Day coincides with the "Closing Day", which is a day of evil in the underworld, and it is traditionally considered inappropriate to hold festive activities on this day.
What's more critical is that May Day is also the birthday of Mazu Niangniang, that is, Mazu's birthday. This is a 60-year reincarnation, and it happened to be on May Day. Mazu, as the god of the sea widely believed in Chinese folklore, has a high degree of reverence, especially in the southeast coastal areas. Every year on this day, thousands of devotees gather at the Mazu Temple on Meizhou Island for a grand worship ceremony to pray for peace and health.
Therefore, on the day of 5.1 this year, we must all remember to do a good job of "1 to worship, 2 not to do, 3 not to go". This is not a superstition, but a cultural inheritance. Thereinto:
"1 to worship" refers to worshiping Mazu Niangniang and expressing respect for the sea god;
"2 Don'ts" means avoiding wedding ceremonies and housewarming on this day;
"3 Don't go" In ancient times, limited by various objective conditions, people would avoid some days by choosing auspicious ways before going to some places with hidden risks, including the closing day. Because in the old vulgar view, "closing the day" should be convergent, rather than taking risks. From a practical point of view, many people will choose to go outdoors during the May Day holiday, and this statement is also a reminder to avoid going to lakes, seasides, barren mountains and mountains on this day to ensure safety.
From a modern perspective, these traditional customs may seem a bit outdated or even superstitious. However, they are the embodiment of the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture. While respecting traditions, we should also understand and accept these customs with an open mind. They are not only the legacy of history, but also the inheritance of culture.
Epilogue:
May Day, as a festival with profound cultural connotations, has both traditional customs and taboos, as well as modern relaxation and joy. While respecting tradition, we should also enjoy this holiday with an open mind. I wish you all no taboos and all the best.