The 13th day of the first month is still a New Year, so what are the customs of the 13th day of the first month? There are many customs on the thirteenth day of the first month, such as lantern, eating dumplings, and sacrificing to Guan Gong.
1. Lantern head birthday
On the 13th day of the first month, there is an important folkloric activity known as the “birthday of the head of the lamp”. Folk in this day to be in the kitchen stove under the light, known as the “light stove lamp”, in fact, because the 15th day of the first month of the lantern is approaching, each family are piloting a good lamp, is said to be the day of the “lantern head”. Nantong old times from the first month of the 13th on the lights, the first month of the 18th down lights, there are “13, 14 gods to see the lights, 15, 16 people to see the lights, 17, 18 ghosts to see the lights” said, and “on the lights on the round son down lights face” of the move. There are many people watching the lanterns in Chenghuang Temple.
2、Rolling dragon lantern
The custom of rolling the dragon has been passed down for more than 100 years during the Spring Festival, which usually lasts for four days. Every year, the 13th day of the first month is the trial lantern, the 14th day is the starting lantern, the 15th day is the main lantern, and the 16th day is the round lantern. In the evening of the test lantern day, six old dragons and many rolling dragons are on the street for the first time. When the lanterns are first released, the dragon lanterns begin to go up and down, circling and flying around. On both sides of the street, each family hanging lights, each family burning incense and firecrackers. Then, rolling dragon, flower blue, story lights, horse lights, fish lights, lion lights, rabbit lights, butterfly lights, gold gourd lights are on the street. At this time, the road of all kinds of dragon lanterns flowing, all kinds of colorful lanterns flashing brilliantly, until after the third night, before closing the lantern, the next day and then play lanterns, until the sixteenth day round lantern.
3、Tying colored lanterns
The 15th day of the first month of the lantern festival, generally from the 13th day of the first month of the lantern. The year jubilee song has “eleven yell chatter, twelve build lantern shed, thirteen people open lights, fourteen lights are bright ……” that is, the first month of the thirteenth day for “on the lights”; fourteenth day for On the 13th day of the first month, it is the “first lantern”; on the 14th day, it is the “test lantern”; on the 15th day, it is the “first lantern”; and on the 17th day, it is the “last lantern”. From the 13th day of the first month, people start to decorate with lanterns!
4、Sacrifice to Guan Gong
There is a custom to worship Guan Gong on the 13th day of the first month of the year. In Xi’an, it has been maintained that on the 13th day of the first month, the seeds of crops such as soybeans and melon seeds are dyed and embedded in the straw to make beautiful pavilions and pavilions, which are enshrined in front of the statue of Guan Gong, praying for a good harvest, prosperity and success in business and studies in the new year.
5、Sacrifice to the sea
On the 13th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, which is said to be the birthday of the Sea Dragon King, fishermen will hold various forms of sea worship activities every year to pray for good weather and a good harvest of fisheries. According to the traditional custom, the offering table has been set up, there are pig’s head, carp, large steamed buns, etc.. In front of the offering table, people burn incense and paper, and perform bowing rituals towards the sea, the ear-splitting sound of firecrackers resonates through heaven and earth, and the bright fireworks hold people’s good hopes for the new year.
6、Sea lanterns
According to Zhuanghe folklore, the 13th day of the first month is the birthday of the Goddess of the Sea, and in some areas in the south, there are also different sayings of the 15th day of the 7th month and the 23rd day of the 3rd month. Local fishermen and villagers follow the traditional custom of setting up offerings on the shore, lighting fireworks, and putting beautifully crafted boat lanterns filled with blessings into the sea to pray for smooth sailing, happiness and peace.
