Among the folks, there are many traditions on the eighth day of the Chinese New Year, such as releasing animals and praying for blessings, etc. Let’s take a look at these traditions one by one.
1. The tradition of the eighth day of the lunar new year has a grain day
According to folklore, the eighth day of the first lunar month is Millet’s birthday. If the weather is sunny on this day, the Lord will have a bumper harvest of rice this year, and if the weather is cloudy, the year will be bad. The tradition of “gu day” is to worship the tablet with the name of the grain written on it, and not to eat the cooked grain. This custom implies the idea of attaching importance to agriculture and cherishing food.
2. On the eighth day of the Chinese new year, there is a tradition of releasing animals and praying for blessings
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, there is a release activity, which means that some fish and birds raised at home are taken outside and released into the wild. Birds eat grain and will rob the harvests of people, so on this day they should release animals (mainly birds and fish) to express the virtue of good life, and at the same time bribed the birds to show mercy. There is another reason for choosing to release life, that is, the eighth day of the first lunar month is the day of Shunxing so that the stars can see their good deeds.
3. The tradition of the eighth day of the new year is Shunxing
Folks take the eighth day of the first lunar month as the day when all the stars are in the lower bounds, and make small lanterns and sacrifice them, which is called Shunxing, also known as “Sacrificing the Star” and “Receiving the Star”. On the night of the eighth day of the first lunar month, people go to the temple to worship Xingjun (ie Shunxing) or not. When offering sacrifices to the stars, a “golden lantern” (yellow lantern flower) should be placed on the desk, stove, threshold, pot table, etc., and lit, called “scattered lantern flower”, which has the meaning of avoiding ominous. After the sacrifice to the stars, the whole family gathered together to have a Lantern Festival.
4. The tradition of the eighth day of the new year is to prepare for Tiangong’s birthday
On the eve of the ninth day of the lunar new year, that is, the eighth day of the lunar new year, the southerners, especially the Fujianese, will prepare to worship Tiangong. The whole family must fast and bathed, and worship with solemn awe. Every household is in front of the main hall, placing a table of the Eight Immortals, erecting an altar, and preparing a magic lamp on the table.
