What is the saying of boiled eggs with shepherd's purse in Tomb-Sweeping Day?

Before and after every trip to Tomb-Sweeping Day, on the third day of the third lunar month, there is a custom of eating shepherd's purse and boiled eggs in my hometown. In the past, my mother always gave one to my younger brother and sister, saying that eating shepherd's purse and boiled eggs on Qingming Festival would eliminate disasters and prolong life, so that no headache or illness would occur. The shape of an egg is round, symbolizing reunion and perfection. On this day in Tomb-Sweeping Day, shepherd's purse boiled eggs, which means good health all year round.

In Jianghan area of Wuhan, the custom of eating shepherd's purse and boiling eggs was investigated. According to legend, during the Three Kingdoms period, Huatuo, a famous doctor in Qichun County, Huanggang, Hubei Province, came to Miancheng to collect herbs. One day, when he was sheltering from the rain in an old man's house, he saw that the old man had a headache and dizziness. Hua tuo immediately diagnosed the old man, picked a handful of ground vegetables (called shepherd's purse) in the old man's garden, told the old man to wash them, and took the juice to cook steamed eggs.

The old man obeyed, took three eggs and recovered. The story spread, and local people boiled eggs with leek (ground) vegetables one after another, and the craze spread throughout the local urban and rural areas of their hometown. Hua Tuo treated the elderly on March 3rd. So, on March 3, boiled eggs with shepherd's purse became a habit in Mianyang, and gradually spread and became popular in Jianghan Plain.

The effect of boiled eggs with shepherd's purse: it can reconcile the function of spleen and stomach, enhance physical fitness, and has a conditioning effect on hypertension, nephritis edema and chyluria, but pregnant women should eat less.

Whether it is boiled eggs with shepherd's purse or hand-wrapped jiaozi, it is a special dish during Tomb-Sweeping Day, a custom and a civilized sacrifice. I hope these fresh and refined foods in spring can be smelled by our ancestors and protect our peace.