How to spend Tanabata?

It is a folk custom to sit and watch morning glory and weaver girl on Tanabata. According to legend, this night every year is the time when the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd meet at the Magpie Bridge. Altair and Vega Vega are beautiful, clever and ingenious fairies. That night, the women on the earth prayed to her for wisdom and skilled skills, and they also prayed to her for a happy marriage. Therefore, the seventh day of July is also known as the Begging Festival. It is said that on Tanabata night, you can look up and see the Milky Way where the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet, and you can also eavesdrop on the love story when they meet in the sky under the melon and fruit shelf. On this romantic night, facing the bright moon in the sky, the girls put the fruits and vegetables of the season in the sky for sacrifice, begging the fairy girls in the sky to give them smart hearts and dexterous hands, making their weaver girls skilled and begging for the combination of love and marriage. In the past, marriage was a lifelong event for women to decide whether they were happy or not. Therefore, on this quiet night, countless sentient men and women in the world will pray for a happy marriage under the stars. Seven Sisters Worship-Qiniang Club

In Guangdong, Valentine's Day in China received the most attention during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, and there were many interesting customs. In Qu Dajun's Guangdong Newspeak, the grand occasion of the "Seven Mothers' Meeting" in the early Qing Dynasty was recorded, and many interesting customs were circulated in the Republic of China. In Qu Dajun's Guangdong Xinyu, the grand occasion of the "Seven Mothers' Meeting" in the early Qing Dynasty has been recorded, and people often call it "worshipping Seven Sisters". According to the memories of the old people who participated in the "Seven Sisters Worship" activities during the Republic of China, "Seven Sisters Worship" was particularly popular in Xiguan, Guangzhou. Activities are generally carried out among young girls and young women (men and elderly women can only watch and salute). Organize a dozen good sisters to prepare for "Seven Sisters worship" in advance. In June, some rice, wheat and mung beans will be soaked in porcelain bowls to germinate. Tanabata is getting busier as it approaches. We need to raise some money and ask our families to help us build a magpie bridge with bamboo paper and make all kinds of exquisite handicrafts. On the evening of Chinese Valentine's Day, the square table was set up in the hall, embroidered tables (table skirts) were tied, and various colorful flower and fruit products and needlework were placed to show the ingenuity of the daughters. Paper-cut safflower belt surrounds the rice seedling and bean sprout tray, and oil lamps are lit in the tray, revealing colorful tissue paper lampshades under the light, which is dazzling; There are carefully arranged flower arrangements, and flowers such as vanilla, jasmine and jasmine are inserted in copper porcelain vases; There are lotus flowers, roses, nightingales and camellias in the small basin, which are as big as teaspoons. One is real and the other is fake, so it's hard to tell the difference between true and false. There are also fruit bowls that cut and fold raw fruits such as apples, peaches and persimmons into various shapes such as birds and beasts; Embroidered clothes, shoes, socks and flower clogs; Small curtains, sheets, curtains and skirts embroidered with gold and silver colored lines; Nail-sized fans and handkerchiefs; In short, the more meticulous, the more skillful, that is, pavilions made of fine wood, and small boards attached to local bean seedlings and millet seedlings. In addition, rice grains, sesame seeds, rushes and colored paper are used to make various forms of towers, tables and chairs, bottle ovens, flowers and fruits, Four Treasures of the Study and beans with various patterns and characters. There are also lanterns made of glass or colored paper, palace lanterns, pomelo peels, eggshell lanterns (carved with landscape flowers and birds) and animal-shaped lanterns. The most pleasing thing is the exquisite dolls made of colored silk by daughters, that is, dolls. The puppy has the image of a cowherd, a weaver girl and a pair of young children, usually placed on the upper floor, and a child playing the piano and dancing on the bottom floor to celebrate the meeting of the two stars. There are also complete sets of drama characters such as The West Chamber, The Red Chamber and Miss Yangmen (there are also porcelain dolls, which parents buy for their young children as holiday gifts). In addition, of course, cosmetics need to be placed, such as small rouge boxes, mirrors, colored combs, velvet flowers, powder cakes and so on. For weavers and daughters. There are wax figures, fruits, small animals and so on. In addition, there are sweet and salty snacks, tea, wine, melon seeds, peanuts and other foods. There are candlesticks, incense burners and incense sticks, which are lit with good sandalwood. It is essential. Daughters should dress up to their heart's content on Tanabata night, bathe and wash their hair in Tianhe, then put on a brocade skirt, coat and cheongsam, comb their hair in a bun, and put on flowers such as Prynne and Jasminum giraldii. Then thrush, pink, crimson lips, forehead print; Dye nails with impatiens juice. After wearing this dress, the daughters descended to earth like fairies, sitting around the square table and the magpie bridge, playing all kinds of games: or entertaining themselves, singing poems in pairs, guessing riddles, worshipping with needles and begging for wisdom; Pointing to the Big Dipper in the sky (it is said that the Weaver Girl is a member of the seven-star sisters) and the double star, telling stories, poems and allusions of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl; Or invite Geji, sing Cantonese opera and play eight songs. The daughters also play Qin Xiao and other musical instruments by themselves. At this time, people can go to other people's homes to visit the table furnishings. Although there are many people, the host is happy to entertain them. Celebrate until midnight, which is an auspicious moment for the Weaver Girl to come down to earth. At this time, all the lights and candles were lit, colorful and brilliant; The girls were in high spirits, threading needles and welcoming Seventh Sister, and cheers were everywhere. Finally, I had a banquet and then I broke up. As Wang Lun, a poet in the Qing Dynasty (the legendary fish name), heard in "Poems on Bamboo Branches on the Qixi Festival in Yangcheng": "Embroidered jade leaves are the second, flowers are the obstacles, and jade is the platform. Qingxi's youngest daughter Lan Qiaomei has an appointment. "

Guangzhou-qimei's birthday

In the past, it was very lively to celebrate the Seven Qiao Festival in Guangzhou. Liu Kezhuang, a poet in the Song Dynasty, once said, "Melons and fruits are blessed with fists, and their throats sound. Cantonese people are very smart, and the lights are on until dawn. " Before the festival comes, the girls prepare all kinds of fancy toys in advance, and make all kinds of flowers, fruits, ladies, utensils, court models and other things with medulla tetrapanacis, colored paper, sesame seeds and rice grains. Soak the seeds and mung beans in a small box and let them sprout. When the bud grows to more than two inches long, it is used to worship the gods, which is called "worship the crane" and "worship the gods". On Qixi Night (Guangzhou people usually spend two nights in a row from the sixth night to the seventh night), the girls put on new clothes, put on jewelry and even painted their nails red. Then, they put all kinds of items already prepared, such as antiques, flowers, seasonal fruits and cosmetics, on the Eight Immortals platform in the hall, and put an oil lamp in the middle of cranes or ceramics. At this time, the halls of rich families are decorated with embroidered chairs, resplendent and magnificent, and ordinary people try their best to arrange the halls in order. After all the arrangements are made, the girls burn incense and light candles and bow down to the stars. This is called "welcoming the immortals". From the third watch to the fifth watch, you should worship seven times in a row. At this time, in addition to inviting relatives and friends to be guests, we should also invite girls who know and don't know the neighborhood to worship God, watch and taste exquisite works of art and toys, and have fun. For example, the more people praise highly skilled artworks and toys, the happier and more honored the girls at home will be. The girls in Guangzhou said, how many times have you voted to show off your skills in front of everyone? After worshipping the immortals, the girls passed through the pinholes with colored threads in their hands (known as the people with golden needles in ancient times). Those who can pass through seven pinholes in one breath are called skillful hands, and those who can't pass through seven-hole needles are called "skillful losers". As the poet of the Tang Dynasty described it: "It is easy to thread a needle in the middle of the month, but it is difficult to pull a straight line in the wind. I don't know who is smart, but I'll try to find it tomorrow. " Then burn the paper round box (dressing box), which contains paper clothes, shoes, powder, dressing mirror, comb and so on. In seven copies. After the worship ceremony, the decorations on the Eight Immortals Stage remain unchanged for the girls to visit and evaluate each other the next day (seventh day). According to some books in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Republic of China, Guangzhou girls showed their skillful skills on Tanabata, including embroidered shoes the size of rice grains, various fans the size of nails, exquisite and light curtains, and special lotus flowers, jasmine flowers, roses, cordate telosma and so on. The flowerpot is only the size of a sprinkling cup, and there are two flowers in it, which is difficult to tell. On the seventh night of the seventh day, they continue to worship the gods as they did last night. This is called "worship of the cowherd". Generally speaking, boys are the main priests. After Tanabata, the girls exchanged handicrafts and toys to show their friendship. In Guangzhou, married women are generally not allowed to attend Chinese Valentine's Day, but the newly-married bride will hold a "farewell ceremony" in the first Chinese Valentine's Day. That is, on the sixth night, when offering sacrifices to God, there were red eggs, sour ginger and so on. (Take the omen to get the child), and add Sydney or sand pears to express the intention of leaving the Daughter's Day. According to Volume 17 of Guangzhou Annals, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, there is an old custom of women boating in Shimen. The yacht is decorated with jasmine and jasmine, which is called a flower boat. They think this day is "Fairy Bath Day". The water quality of Shimenpu is clear, and it returns to the two mountains at sunrise and sunset in the morning and evening. Sometimes there are some mirage-like illusions in the sky. The boatmen hope to be lucky enough to see odd numbers, so the girls' tanabata tour in Shimen Agarwood Shop has become an important content, very lively and a holiday custom.

Jiaxing-Qixi Xiangqiao Expo

In Gudoujing Village, Tang Hui Town, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, there is a Qixi Xiangqiao Club. Every year on Tanabata, someone will participate and build a fragrant bridge. The so-called fragrant bridge is a bridge about four or five meters long and half a meter wide. It is made of all kinds of thick and long wrapped incense (paper wrapped incense), mounted with railings and decorated with flowers made of five-color lines. In the evening, people worship the Double Star, pray for good luck, and then burn Xiangqiao, symbolizing that the Double Star has crossed Xiangqiao and met happily. This fragrant bridge originated from the legendary magpie bridge legend.

Hunan and Zhejiang-women wash their hair and collect dew.

It is also a special custom for women to wash their hair on Tanabata. It is recorded in Hunan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. For example, in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, "Records of Youxian County": "On July 7, women picked peach branches with cypress leaves and soaked them in soup." The famous essayist (from Zhejiang) also mentioned in her Notes that her mother, uncles, aunts and other harem members all washed their hair on Tanabata. This custom is related to the Tanabata belief in "holy water". It is believed that taking spring water and river water on Tanabata Day is as sacred as taking water from the Milky Way. Some places directly call it "the holy water of Tiansun (Weaver Girl)". Therefore, it is of special significance for women to wash their hair on this day, which means that with the holy water of the Milky Way, they will be protected by the goddess Vega. It is also popular to catch dew with a washbasin. Legend has it that the dew on Tanabata is the tears when cowherd and weaver girl meet. If you put it in your eyes and hands, it can make people agile. Cowherd and Weaver Girl Weifang Jiaodong New Year Pictures —— Worship Seven Sisters

In Jiaodong area, more people worship Seven Sisters on Tanabata. Young women put on new clothes, got together, tied the knot for Seven Sisters in the court, and sang songs: "Yellow Emperor, I invited Seven Sisters to heaven. I don't want to draw your needle, I don't want to draw your line, I want to show you 72 good means. " In many places, "Qiao Hua" has also been made. Girls use flour to make cakes and buns, peony, lotus, plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum and other flowers (or appropriate fruits), and there are also clever colors, that is, cultivating malt in a small wine cup (this is the "breeding" in the Song Dynasty) and offering sacrifices to Weaver Girl with appropriate fruits and clever colors.

Southwest China-nail dyeing

Nail dyeing is the custom of Qixi Festival, which is popular in southwest China. It is also popular in many county records in Sichuan Province, as well as in Guizhou and Guangdong. Young girls in many areas like to wash their hair with the sap of trees during festivals. It is said that not only young and beautiful, but also unmarried women can find the right husband as soon as possible. Dyeing nails with flowers and plants is also a hobby of most women and children in holiday entertainment, and it is also closely related to reproductive beliefs.

Guangzhou-welcome immortals

Guangzhou's begging festival is unique. Before the festival comes, the girls prepare colored paper, medulla tetrapanacis, string, etc. in advance and weave them into various fancy gadgets. They also put seeds and mung beans in a small box and soaked them in water to germinate them. Buds grow to more than two inches and are used to worship the gods, which are called "worshipping the immortals" and "worshipping the gods". From the sixth night to the seventh night, the girls put on new clothes and jewelry for two nights in a row. After all the arrangements are made, they burn incense and light candles and bow down to the stars, which is called "welcoming the immortals". From the third night to the fifth watch, they will worship seven times in a row. After worshipping the immortals, the girls passed through the pinholes with colored threads in their hands. For example, those who can wear seven pinholes in one breath are called skillful hands, and those who can't wear seven pinholes are called skillful hands. After Tanabata, the girls exchanged small crafts and toys to show their friendship.

Shaanxi-ligating ancient bridge

In the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province, it is also a custom to hold various begging activities on Tanabata night. Women often have to tie up grass people in flowered clothes, which is called the ancient bridge. They should not only provide melons and fruits, but also plant bean sprouts and shallots. On the night of Qixi, all the women held a bowl of water in their hands, cut bean sprouts and shallots, put them into the water, and used the shadow of the moon to predict the fate of cleverness. They also wear needles and thread to compete. At the same time, there will be activities to cut window grilles.

Guangxi-Tanabata Water Storage

There is a custom of storing water on Tanabata in some areas of Guangxi. It is believed that double seven baths can eliminate disasters and diseases. Sick children often tie a red rope into seven knots on this day and wear it around their necks to pray for health and good luck.

Shandong —— Grow smart vegetables into smart flowers.

There are two activities in Rongcheng, Shandong. One is "clever dishes", that is, young girls cultivate malt in wine glasses, and the other is "Qiao Hua", where young girls use flour to shape various foods with flowers.

Shaoxing-Listen to the whispers under the pumpkin shed.

In the countryside of Shaoxing, there will be many young girls hiding under the leafy pumpkin shed. If we can hear the whisper of the meeting of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl in the dead of night, the girl to be married will definitely get this eternal love in the future.

Fujian Xianyou-Fried Soybean and Peanut with White Sugar

In Xianyou, every household will make fried beans on this day. The materials are white sugar, soybeans and raw peanuts. Soybeans should be soaked one day in advance, then fried in a pot for half-cooked, and picked up for use the next day. Peanuts should also be picked up and put in the pot, and then white sugar should be poured into the pot to cook. When saccharifying, soybeans and peanuts should be poured into the pot to cook together. This custom has lasted for a long time.

Chinese Valentine's Day, Minnan, Taiwan Province Province

Minnan dialect and Tanabata in Taiwan Province Province are the birthdays of "Qi Niang". Qi is a very popular way of offering sacrifices among the people and is regarded as an idol to protect children's safety and health. According to the textual research of the book Minnan People written by Lin Zaifu, a scholar from Taiwan Province Province in southern Fujian, most Minnan people have not been able to return to Taiwan Province Province or other foreign countries for business for many years, so women have to pin all their hopes on their children, and only with hope can they have the courage to live. Therefore, Tanabata, a lovesick festival, has evolved into a blessing for the "seven mothers" who protect their children. On this day every year, people go to Qiniangma Temple in groups of three and five, offering flowers, fruits, powders and sacrifices. On this day, a "rite of passage" is also popular in Taiwan Province Province, that is, when a child reaches the age of 15, his parents will lead him to the Seven Mothers Temple to reward him for protecting his child through childhood, childhood and adolescence. On this day, Tainan will hold a rite of passage for a child aged 16 who is "sixteen". People in Taiwan Province Province believe that children were raised by fairy birds-mother birds-before 16 years old. The mother bird is Qi Tuo, so Qi became the patron saint of underage children. After the baby is one year old, the pious mother or grandmother will hold the baby in her arms, bring rich sacrifices, add cockscomb flowers and thousand-day red flowers, go to the temple to worship, pray for the year of Qi Ma to bless the child to grow up safely, and tie it around her neck with red envelopes or lock cards with ancient money until 16 years old. Only in this way can she win the lock card on Tanabata, thanks to Qi Ma's blessing for many years. Some parents, in addition to paying homage to the "Seven Mothers" on Tanabata, specially invited relatives and friends to celebrate their children's adult ceremony. Although the folk Tanabata in southern Fujian and Taiwan Province Province is not very particular, it attaches great importance to the custom of health food. On the occasion of Tanabata, almost every household will buy Chinese medicine gentlemen and pomegranates. I cooked eggs, lean pork, pork intestines, crabs, etc. And the paid gentlemen. After dinner, I shared pomegranate. Both of these foods have certain insect repellent functions, so they are very popular. It's interesting to say that people are still used to cooking brown sugar and dried rice at the New Year's Eve dinner in Chinese Valentine's Day, Taiwan Province Province, which also plays an auxiliary role in attracting insects to take medicine. Why is there this unique custom? According to legend, Wu Yundong, a famous doctor in the Northern Song Dynasty respected by both sides of the Taiwan Strait, was the "Baosheng Emperor". It was the summer of the first year of Jingyou (1034), and the plague was prevalent in southern Fujian. Wu Yundong, a kind-hearted famous doctor, took his disciples around to collect medicines and treat the people. Seeing that many adults and children have insect pests, he advocated that people buy gentlemen and pomegranates on Tanabata. Because Tanabata is easy to remember, it is also the mature season of pomegranate. As a result, the people did it, which played an unexpected role in health care. Later, it became a custom, which has been passed down from Minnan immigrants to Taiwan Province Province. Because of his superb medical skills and noble medical ethics, Wu Yundong was respected as a medical god from the royal family down to the poor.