What does it mean to touch autumn in early autumn?

Touching autumn in beginning of autumn refers to people quietly or together going to other people's melon gardens or vegetable fields to touch back fruits and vegetables, commonly known as "touching autumn".

In many places, the custom of "touching autumn" is very popular among the people. On that night in early autumn, people quietly went to other people's melon gardens and vegetable fields to look for all kinds of fruits and vegetables, commonly known as "touching autumn".

Those who lost "Qiu" that night, no matter how much they lost, will not be investigated. Even if they find out, they should regard it as not seeing it, and even secretly help "touch the autumn" and "escape". It is said that it is unlucky not to lose some "autumn" in the early autumn night.

On that night in early autumn, many women who have never given birth will go to melon gardens and vegetable fields to touch the beans accompanied by their sisters. Legend has it that if you can touch pumpkins, it is easy to have boys; If you can touch lentils, it is easy to have girls.

It would be more auspicious if you could touch the white lentils. Not only can a girl be born, but husband and wife can live happily ever after. Of course, these are beautiful legends without scientific basis, but they all represent people's expectations for a better life.

What fruits and vegetables do you usually touch in autumn?

Fruits and vegetables related to autumn are actually seasonal dishes around beginning of autumn, such as pumpkins, lentils, peppers, eggplant, green onions and beans. Each of them has a different meaning. Green onions symbolize wisdom, pumpkins symbolize good luck, and beans represent longevity.

Folk stories:

Legend has it that there was a peasant uprising army in the Huaihe River valley at the end of Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of Ming Dynasty. Because all the soldiers of this uprising army were peasants, they all suffered military disasters from the Yuan Army and hated the army that oppressed the people. Therefore, this army has strict discipline and cares for the people. Wherever it went, it didn't hurt the people.

One day, the rebel army came to the bank of Huaihe River, and because it was late at night, it was inconvenient to disturb the people, so they camped in the open air. Some soldiers were so hungry that they picked some fruits and vegetables in the roadside fields to satisfy their hunger. Unexpectedly, this matter was discovered by the leader of the rebel army and should be beheaded according to the military regulations.

At dawn the next day, the leaders prepared to deal with these soldiers according to military law. The villagers knew that this team never took the common people seriously, but was a team of ordinary people, so they brought food to reward the soldiers and begged the rebel leaders to let them go.

One of the old people casually said, "According to the rules of our ancestors, touching autumn in August is not stealing." These soldiers were thus saved from death. It happened to be beginning of autumn that night, so the folk left the custom of "touching autumn", and the saying that "touching autumn is not stealing, but not chasing" was handed down.