Minnan New Year Customs [Extra Time]

After New Year's Eve 12, there is another custom in southern Fujian, that is, every household should set off firecrackers, which means to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. The new year has begun again, with new hope and a good start. Many people prepared fruits early and started to light "magic lanterns"-that is, red lanterns in front of the door. Lanterns in suites are usually hung on the balcony, while those in the building are usually hung on the balcony on the top floor to put fruit, incense and worship the gods. At the same time, we should worship our ancestors. There are Buddha statues at home, as well as believers who burn incense and light candles, praying for the Buddha to bless the whole family's good health, safe entry and exit and all the best. There used to be a custom of keeping age, but now few people keep age-when children and grandchildren can't go to bed early, they have to sit together and talk and laugh all night. It is said that the later the younger generation goes to bed, the longer the life span of the elderly at home will be. "Shounian" is actually a way for children and grandchildren to show filial piety to their elders. On the contrary, some tireless teenagers are full of energy and play all night. They may have forgotten the true meaning of keeping old. Most people were busy for many days before last year. After the morning, they all went to rest because they had to get up early the next day.

On the first day of the first month, the whole family should get up early. In southern Fujian, there is a custom of drinking "kumquat tea" early on the first day of the first month. That is, when you get up in the morning, you should drink a cup of green tea and eat a "big orange" or "kumquat" at the same time, which means that the new year is very prosperous and smooth. Breakfast on the first day of the first month in southern Fujian must be dry food-it is said that if you eat dry food on this day, you will not get caught in the rain when you go out. There must also be a "longevity dish" and a pot of radish-based dishes in this morning's dish. The so-called "longevity dish" is actually mustard. Usually the mustard is peeled off one by one the night before. Wash the leaves and stems, boil them in boiling water until they are soft, then pick them up and put them in cold water, and then tear them into strips by hand-remember, never cut them with a knife! Cook with oil and salt until the next day to become a "longevity dish" on the table. Because mustard plants are tall and the torn stems and leaves grow into strips, this dish symbolizes longevity. A picky family will have "longevity dishes" at the first bite. This "longevity dish" is called "long dish" in Fujian. As for Chinese New Year, radish is still used for cooking, because in southern Fujian, radish is called "vegetable head", and "vegetable head" is homophonic with "color head", which means that the New Year has a good color head and everything goes well.

On the first day of the first month, there is a custom of not sweeping the floor, using knives and scissors, and not taking well water in southern Fujian. Because sweeping the floor means sweeping away all the wealth, even if you want to sweep the floor, you should sweep it from the door, that is, sweep the wealth at home. Garbage can only be piled up in one place and cannot be dumped. Knives and scissors are sharp things, which often bring ominous associations of injury and bleeding. Don't move the knife and scissors, lest there be a bloody disaster in the new year. Therefore, Minnan people also stipulate that nails of hands and feet should be trimmed on New Year's Eve. Besides, they can only wait until the sixteenth lunar month before pruning. Now most people use tap water, so the custom of not taking well water is gradually fading. I don't take well water because it is said that there is a well god in the well. Getting well water on the first day of the first month will touch the well god, make him angry, and bring disaster to my family.

On the second day of the first month, it is commonly known as "son-in-law's day" in southern Fujian, that is, on this day, the married daughter will go back to her family with her husband.

The fourth day of the first month is the day to meet God, also known as the day to accept God. On the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, every household sends kitchen gods and other gods to speak well. The gods have had enough fun in the Heavenly Palace, and they will come to earth today. Therefore, on the fourth day of the first month, we will respectfully take them home for sacrifice, and pray for the gods and buddhas to bless the whole family's peace and good luck in the new year.

On the fifth day of the first month, most shops opened and farmers began to work in the fields.

The seventh day of the first month is called "Man-Moon Festival". You should usually eat egg noodles.

On the ninth day of the first month, it is called "born in heaven", which is as grand as the New Year. The ancients thought that heaven was the boss, so how could they not respect God?

The fifteenth day of the first month is the Lantern Festival. We should eat dumplings and enjoy lanterns.

In addition, regarding the customs of the Spring Festival, there are jingles in Quanzhou, Jinjiang and Shishi coastal areas: the first day (when the casino opened, entertainment activities began), the second day (entertainment continued yesterday), the third day, there was no posture mother (Minnan language called women "posture mothers", and women didn't go to the streets on this day), the fourth day, the kitchen god came back from the sky, and the fifth day, farmers began to report. At the beginning of July in the lunar calendar (seven kinds of vegetables and fruits should be made into "Qibao soup"), at the end of August in the lunar calendar (all good things such as rice cakes are eaten up on this day), at the end of September in the lunar calendar, "God" is born (it is God's birthday, so you should worship God), and at the end of October in the lunar calendar, you should eat well (it is still cold, so you should drink and have fun at home), and at the end of November in the lunar calendar, you should "look for it". ), twelve please son-in-law (on this day, the mother-in-law will cook dinner for her son-in-law). Thirteen, eat glutinous rice paste (porridge) with mustard (in the past, the days were poor, and at this time all the delicious food was eaten up, so it was time to start a simple day of tea and light rice) Fourteen, set up a light shed (set up a light shed to prepare for the activities of Shangyuan Festival) Fifteen, Shangyuan Festival (that is, Lantern Festival) Sixteen, there is a mother (there is God, of course, there is Mother Earth, and this day is Mother Earth.