On the Customs and Habits of Pingtan County

Customs in Pingtan County, Tomb-Sweeping Day: People go to ancestral graves to sweep graves, mow grass, trim trees, refresh inscriptions, and sign on money paper and red paper; Christians often cut red paper into crosses and put them on graves. The tombs of the first year (or those newly buried the year before) should be swept on the Qingming day or one or two days before. There is a saying that "you are not filial to your son, and you will not sacrifice (sweep) Grain Rain in Qingming". In the Year of the Tiger, it is generally forbidden for Tomb-Sweeping Day to sweep graves, and it is necessary to sweep graves one or two days in advance or later. After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), government agencies, schools and organizations often organized civil servants, teachers and students. Visit the Martyrs Cemetery to show remembrance and admiration. Changxia: It is the season of wheat, and people have the custom of making pasta to celebrate the harvest. Mid-Autumn Festival: July 15 is the Mid-Autumn Festival, commonly known as "July Half Festival", also known as Ghost Festival, which is a festival to worship ancestors. Wei Zhongyuan: On the 29th day of the seventh lunar month, the summer flood in fishing areas ended. In the old days, fishermen prepared more incense sticks to worship the sea gods in Mazu Tempel and Longwang Temple. After the 1950s, this habit gradually disappeared. Double Ninth Festival: Double Ninth Festival in September, also called Double Ninth Festival. In the old days, Chongyang climbed high, which meant avoiding evil spirits. Children often compete to fly kites on this day. From 65438 to 0988, the Fujian provincial government designated this day as "Respect for the Elderly" and "Old People's Day". Winter solstice: also called winter festival. There are mainly two kinds of folk activities of pingtan, one is to worship ancestors, and the other is to "rub round" (to do winter festival). Both events are held on the day before the winter solstice. First, ancestor worship (Christians and Catholics do not have this custom). After dinner, everyone lights red candles and puts on red oranges. Men, women and children sit together and start rubbing. Glutinous rice is divided into sweet glutinous rice, and potato flour is divided into salty glutinous rice. In the past, firecrackers were set off before friction. Moreover, flowers should be inserted on the edge of the dustpan (formerly known as "porcelain officer"), and a few small red hoes should be specially wiped. When cooking in the morning, it will be attached to the bristles on both sides of the door frame and the pig's back to express the wishes of family harmony, bumper crops, prosperous livestock and all the best. Cooking is usually done in the morning of winter festivals. After setting off firecrackers, the whole family will eat it for breakfast. Some places in Pingtan follow Fuqing customs. In the first year of the Winter Festival, the newly-married daughter's family will send winter flowers and red oranges to her daughter and son-in-law, commonly known as "rubbing round flowers" to express their blessings. New bereaved families don't rub in winter holidays, which are given by neighbors or relatives and friends. They need odd numbers, and the bereaved families are given back with sugar. In addition to the above festivals, there are many religious festivals among the people. For example, Buddhists celebrate the Buddha Bathing Festival on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Kogasawara Festival on the 15th of July and the Laba Festival on the eighth day of December. Christians and Catholics celebrate Easter, Christmas, etc.