"Dragon Raises Its Head on the Second Day of the Second Lunar Month" From ancient astronomical perspectives, ancient China used the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions to map celestial bodies' positions and determine seasons. The "dragon" refers to the Azure Dragon constellation in the east. Each year at the start of the second lunar month (when the Big Dipper points due east), the Dragon's Horn star rises above the eastern horizon—hence the name "Dragon Raises Its Head."
Customs of the Dragon Raising Its Head
Eating Dragon-Themed Foods
On the second day of the second lunar month, it is traditional to eat foods symbolizing the dragon. Dumplings represent the dragon's ears; noodles symbolize its whiskers; spring pancakes signify its scales. All these foods carry the symbolic meaning of the dragon, embodying people's strong wish for the dragon to bestow blessings.
Shaving the Dragon's Head
On the second day of the second lunar month, known as the day the dragon raises its head, people traditionally go for a haircut. It is widely believed that getting a haircut on this day brings good fortune and blessings, making barbershops bustling with customers.
Worshiping the Dragon Deity
On the second day of the second lunar month, people carry lanterns to draw water from wells in the morning. Upon returning home, they light lamps, burn incense, and offer sacrifices. This ritual, called "Inviting the Field Dragon," seeks to ensure a bountiful harvest.
Why Eat Pig's Head Meat on Dragon Raising Day?
1. Pigs are slaughtered during the New Year period. After the Spring Festival feasts, only the pig's head remains, making it the only edible part left to consume on Dragon Raising Day.
2. On the Dragon Raising Its Head Festival, people seek dragon-like traits in animals. Substituting a pig's head for a dragon's head stems from this belief. Farmers offer their finest sacrifices to the Dragon King on this day, using pig's heads as offerings to honor ancestors and seek auspicious omens.