What are the customs in southern Fujian?

1, dusty day

Year-end cleaning. In order to welcome the new year, people use tender bamboo branches and leaves, banyan branches and leaves, or long dusters tied with straw and sugarcane leaves to clean the dust cobwebs on the corner beams, and also use "tablecloths" to wipe all kinds of farm tools and articles. The main purpose of "dust removal" is, of course, to clean up and let us spend the coming year in high spirits, but also to drive away the epidemic, sweep away the plague and pray for peace in the coming year.

2. Steamed bowls and cakes

After the Dust Festival, in many places in southern Fujian, such as Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Shishi and other coastal areas, in order to have a good Spring Festival, it is necessary to steam "bowls of cakes", also called "scones". In Minnan language, the fatter the rice cake, the better, because "fat" means getting rich and developed.

Steaming "bowl cakes" must be "fermented" first, so "bowl cakes" means being able to develop and make a fortune. Moreover, after rice noodles are fermented and steamed with strong fire, the top of the cake will crack, which means "smiles are always open" and symbolizes the happiness of the whole family. "Bowl cakes" are mostly steamed with sugar, which is sweet and delicious, meaning that life is sweet and auspicious.

Step 3 post Spring Festival couplets

On New Year's Eve, people take off the old Spring Festival couplets and blessings on all the doors and replace them with new ones. In some areas, posting Spring Festival couplets is usually done by men at home. As a result, the family became brand-new and happy.

4. Respect God

Sacrificing to heaven is the most solemn ceremony on the first day of the first month of each year. On the first day of the new year, we worship and pray to heaven that this year will be a bumper harvest. A couple of children (zero), firecrackers everywhere, people set up a case in the hall at home, put three sacrifices, fruits, green tea, gold and other offerings, burn three pots of incense, light candles, worship "God" and worship their ancestors. This sacrifice lasted until the fourth day.

5. Openness is

On New Year's Eve, families get together for a reunion dinner. The elders at home will give red envelopes to their children first and then jump into the fire. Everyone chats and plays, and stays up until the bell rings at 12 to welcome the new year. While "honoring God", every household sets off firecrackers and opens doors to welcome the spring, commonly known as "Ryan".

Extended data:

1, He Zheng

In the morning, men, women and children get up to wash their hands and put on new clothes that have already been prepared. For breakfast, the family eats noodles with eggs, and the eggs are shelled, which is intended to remove mold and welcome good luck. Noodles symbolize longevity. After breakfast, I went out to visit my neighbors and relatives and greeted them with a smile. When you meet for the first time, you should say "congratulations" to each other, commonly known as "He Zheng", which also means to pay a New Year call to the Lantern Festival. When guests come to the door, they should provide candy, candied fruit, or drink sweet tea and coffee to make them "sweet" to show a sweet start.

2. Group worship

The so-called "group worship", even if the villagers go to the largest ancestral temple in the village to worship God, it starts at eight or nine in the morning. The origin of group worship is closely related to the production of villagers. When offering sacrifices to the gods in the ancestral temple, there is a most important ceremony called "Cup". "Cup" is popular in southern Fujian and Taiwan Province, also known as "Bo Cup" and "Tossing".

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia-Minnan Local Folk Customs