This year's Lixia is different because it is the beginning of the year of the Jiachen Dragon, a special year that occurs once in 60 years. As one of the 24 solar terms, Lixia has always been closely related to agricultural production and folk traditions, and this year we need to pay special attention to "1 to wear, 2 not to do, 3 to eat".
The history and significance of Lixia
Lixia is one of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, which comes in early May every year, marking the end of spring and the beginning of summer. For the ancients, the beginning of summer meant that crops had entered a vigorous period of growth. As a result, there are many customs related to the beginning of the summer among the people. In ancient times, people expressed their awe for nature and their expectation of a good harvest through various activities.
The unusualness of the beginning of summer
This year's Lixia is the beginning of the year of the Jiachen Dragon, which means that we are in a special year that occurs once in 60 years. According to the records of the Sixty Jiazi Table, the year of the dragon does not come until every 60 years. As a new cycle, the Year of the Dragon often symbolizes new opportunities and challenges. There is a folk saying that "good luck is coming in the year of the dragon in Jiachen", so this also adds a unique expectation and significance to this year's Lixia.
The traditional customs of the beginning of summer
On the day of the beginning of summer, there are different traditions in different regions, such as in some places, there is a celebration of the "Frog Festival", where people go to specific places to pray for a good harvest and prepare offerings to sacrifice the frogs. There are also some places where temple fairs are held to commemorate the birthday of Emperor Dongyue. These traditions, which have been handed down for thousands of years, have added more cultural connotations to today's Lixia Festival.
1. To wear: wear red
There is a custom of wearing red clothes on the day of the beginning of summer, a custom that can be traced back to the ceremony of the beginning of summer held by ancient emperors. Red symbolizes festivity and vitality, and conveys hope and wishes for a new life. Wearing red clothes is not only to pass on tradition, but also to look forward to a better life. Today, wearing red has also become a way for people to express their positive attitude and yearning for the future in Lixia.
2. Don't do: Don't sit on the threshold and don't wash your hair in the morning
Don't sit on the threshold: The elderly believe that sitting on the threshold will affect their health because the threshold is connected to the land and is prone to cold. The threshold has a unique symbolic meaning in folk culture, and there are many particularities on the threshold, such as not stepping on the threshold, and paying attention to the order of the left and right feet when stepping on the threshold, which are the embodiment of folk traditions.
Don't wash your hair in the morning: Don't wash your hair in the morning, especially in the southern region, where the humidity is heavier, and washing your hair in the morning is easy to make people catch a cold and increase the moisture in the body. The elders believe that washing their hair in the morning at the beginning of summer is not only bad for health, but also symbolizes washing away good luck.
3. To eat: eggs, Lixia tea, foot bone shoots
Eating eggs: Eating eggs on the day of the beginning of summer is believed to be good for the body, as well as a symbol of good harvest and fulfillment. Folks prefer to eat tea eggs or walnut boiled eggs, which means that eating eggs increases strength and strengthens the body. The old people often say that "Lixia eats an egg, and the strength grows", and eating eggs in Lixia has become everyone's consensus.
Drinking Lixia tea: Drinking new tea on the day of Lixia is a tradition in many regions. New tea is not only refreshing, but also keeps people energized in the coming summer. In ancient times, it was believed that drinking tea in the beginning of summer would make people not sleepy all summer, so drinking tea was especially important on the day of the beginning of summer.
Eat foot bones: Foot bones are slender and easy to cook, making them an important ingredient in the summer season in many regions. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" also mentions the various effects of bamboo shoots, such as brightening the eyes, quenching thirst, and treating insomnia. Foot bamboo shoots are regarded as a symbol of health and hope among the people, and it is believed that eating bamboo shoots can make people grow and be healthy every day like bamboo shoots.
end
This year's Lixia is different from the past, because it is the year of the dragon in Jiachen, which has not been seen in 60 years. We must remember the custom of "1 to wear, 2 not to do, 3 to eat", and abide by the tradition to meet new opportunities and challenges in this special Lixia solar term. What do you think of this year's Lixia? Feel free to share your views and opinions in the comment section!