On the Custom Culture of Zhucheng

Yingniu

In the lower reaches of the Bai Chi River, farmers welcome cows instead of the God of Wealth in the New Year. Why?

According to legend, a long time ago, the Bai Chi River often overflowed, flooding villages downstream and washing away property.

One summer, it rained heavily for three days and nights. The water on the flat ground is more than a foot deep, and the river is skyrocketing and will come out again. At this time, there is a village called Cheng Yi downstream. There is an old rich man named Kang Hu in the village. He has a cow at home. When the cow heard that it was going to deliver water, Cleisthenes let out a cry, tore off the reins and ran away. Cattle run in front, while rich Kang Lao chases after them, all the way to the Bai Chi River. He saw the cow run to the river and took a long drink, and the river that was about to leave the trough was drunk. After a while, the river was full again. When he drank hard again, he was anxious. He choked on a pile of wheat bran floating in the river, sneezed and the water gushed out at once. When he saw something bad, he jumped into the river and went down the river, drinking while walking. The old rich man went to look for the cow soon, but he couldn't find it back.

People are obsessed with the benefits of this cow. On New Year's Eve, they will bring Niu Jiao back to celebrate the New Year, walk into the street with lanterns and shout in the direction of the river: "Cow, cow, thanks to your river, it's the New Year, come home quickly!"

Over time, it has become a custom for villages in this area to greet the god of wealth on New Year's Eve instead of cows.

Taomu brothers

In the early years, every New Year's Eve here, when people welcomed the God of Wealth back, they would always break a few peach tree branches and put them on both sides of the door, so that ghosts would not dare to enter the door. Why can mahogany ward off evil spirits?

Once upon a time, there was a water ghost in the Weihe River. Every three years, a new person replaces it.

One night, the water ghost said to himself, "At noon tomorrow, a man with a hat on his head will come to change me." Say that finish haha laughed and sank to the bottom of the river. This was heard by a man who was watching melons in Gua Tian. He thought, I will go and see if there is a man with a hat crossing the river at noon tomorrow.

At noon the next day, I crossed the river once. The man bought a pot and put it on his head to facilitate crossing the river. Just as I was about to cross the river, I was stopped by the melon watcher. The man crossing the river asked, "What do you want me to do?" The melon watcher said, "I think you are very hot." I told you to eat a melon and let it cool before you go! " "People crossing the river said," My family is waiting to cook! "The melon watcher added," It's not bad to wait and cook. "He added," I picked a big watermelon early, so you can open it and eat it! " The river is big and urgent. The melon watcher said, "Look, this river is so big! Fortunately, you didn't cross the river, otherwise you would have been washed away and drowned! " "

After eating melons, it's past noon and the river is getting smaller and smaller. The melon watcher said, "You should go." People crossing the river changed their trouser legs and carried the pot across the river.

The water ghost crossing the river is not dead, and there is no one to replace it. It has to stay in the river for another three years. The water ghost is very angry. He wants to get even with the melon watcher.

In the moonlight at night, the water ghost came straight to the melon house with a whirlwind. When I look at the melon, I see that it has long hair, bright eyes and blue fangs, and my heart beats with fear. At this time, the water ghost said viciously, "Tonight, for Brother Taomu, or I will punish you." Say that finish, and a whirlwind.

The next morning, the melon watcher carefully looked at the melon room, and there was a peach stick in it. As soon as this story spread, everyone thought that mahogany could avoid ghosts and evil spirits. During the Spring Festival, in order to prevent ghosts from entering the door, this peach branch was folded and placed by the door. This custom has been passed down to the present.

The origin of grandpa land

Legend has it that Grandpa Land is the grandfather of Han Xiangzi, the Eight Immortals.

After Han Xiangzi became immortal, his grandfather was greedy and insisted that Xiangzi take him to Zhong Nanshan to practice. Xiangzi said, "Grandpa, cultivation is not as good as your old man thinks. I won't elaborate on the suffering, but my heart can't go away. " The old man nodded repeatedly, urging Xiangzi to take him away quickly.

Han Xiangzi picked up his grandfather and went to heaven with a whoosh. At this time, the old man suddenly remembered, how to forget the old woman? If you take her, it would be great for the old couple to be immortal together! Thinking of this, he shouted to Xiangzi to stop. Xiangzi suddenly heard grandpa's cry and was taken aback. He let go of his hand and threw the old man to the head of the village. My face is blue, my legs are broken, and I can't breathe when I touch my heart! Immortals become ghosts before they become immortals.

Not to mention Han Xiangzi's remorse. When the old man died, the old woman thought during the day and at night. She didn't eat rice or drink water, and soon died. Han Xiangzi buried two old people where they fell. A straw shed was built next to it to put the old man's memorial tablet. After three years of guarding the tomb, he recited 372 10 volumes, surpassing the soul of the old man and ascending to heaven.

It is said that the old man used to have high prestige. He is a "knowledgeable person" and "peacemaker" in the village and has a set of experience in farming. On weekdays, neighbors don't know which mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quarrel, so he goes to persuade them to make up. Everyone respects him very much.

Now, it is said that the soul of Han Xiangzi, a turned-over old man, has ascended to heaven, ranking among the gods, specializing in one side of the land and becoming a land god. He got his wish and pooled his money to build a temple to worship the old couple. On the Day of the Elderly, people come to burn incense and worship the elderly, praying for good weather, abundant crops, family harmony and less right and wrong, and long-term development will become a custom.