Folk Customs

Getting a haircut:

On that day, there is a saying that goes “getting a haircut to remove the old.” For children, getting a haircut acts as a symbolic blessing for them to grow up healthy, and live fulfilling lives. For adults, getting a haircut signifies a break with the old and ushering in better luck for the future.

Eating fried beans:

The ceremonial eating of fried beans is related to the legend of “golden bean bloom.” On the day, every household used sugar to fry soybeans. The fried soybeans are sweet, crisp, chewy, and popular.

Eating dragon-related food:

On this day, people eat food mostly named after “dragon,” such as dumplings called “dragon ears,” eating rice called “dragon eggs”, eating noodles called “dragon beards.” These customs revolved around the belief that eating dragon-themed food would imbue people with good luck and fulfill wishes, and grant them a bumper grain harvest.

Picking up the daughter:

In some parts of northern China, a married woman cannot visit her family in the first month of the lunar calendar. But by the second day of second month, the family will come to pick up their daughter and stay with her for a few days.

Dragon Attracts Wealth:

Dragon brings water, and water brings money. People will place a few coins in a pot on this day, fetch water in a well or river near the house, and sprinkle them all the way back home, then pour the water and coins in the pot into the water tank, as a way of leading the water (and the money associated with it) to home.

Sending off dragon lights:

In the Yellow River Delta and some riverside areas, many people use reeds or stalks to build small boats, place candles or small oil bowls on them, and wait until the evening to put them in the river to ignite for the dragon.

Knocking the dragon’s head:

On the day, in some areas of northeast China, people strike a beam of their houses with a long pole, known as knocking the dragon’s head. It is said that this can wake up the dragon and bring peace.