What to eat on February 2? The food you eat on that day is related to the dragon.

What food should we eat on February 2? "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head", symbolizing the revival of all things. In order to celebrate this important festival, the food eaten on this day is also very particular. Next, let us learn about it together.

Traditional food of Dragon Head Festival in February

Mustard Rice

Eating mustard greens rice on the second day of the second lunar month is a traditional custom in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Mustard greens are refreshing and delicious. They contain a lot of chlorophyll and vitamin C. Regular consumption can improve immunity and enhance resistance, so there is a saying that "eating mustard greens rice will prevent scabies." Because mustard greens taste bitter, using them to stew rice represents that the new year has passed, and everyone is preparing to work hard and strive for the new year.

Eat salty porridge

On the second day of the second lunar month, people in Fuzhou do not eat sweet porridge, but salty porridge instead. The reason why salty porridge is cooked on the second day of the second lunar month is mainly because in ancient Fuzhou, material resources were not abundant and the living standards of the people were very low. Chicken, duck, fish and meat were rarely available, and it was only before the Spring Festival that it was necessary and possible to purchase them in order to prepare enough "food and grass" for New Year's Eve and the first month of the year (because during the first month of the year, many businesses also stopped work for a rest, and it was not easy to buy suitable food on the market). The food had been stored for nearly a month. The edible ones had been eaten up, and the uneaten ones were about to rot and spoil. On the second day of the second month, the frugal housewives mixed together the food that had not been eaten in the first month of the lunar year, added some glutinous rice, and cooked it into porridge.

Eat Dragon Food

The folk tradition is that on the day of "February 2, the Dragon Raises its Head", every household steams and eats meat dragons, which indicates that they should start working hard in the new year, get rid of laziness and make a good start for the new year. Most of the food eaten on this day is named after dragons. For example, eating spring rolls is called "eating dragon scales"; eating noodles is called "supporting dragon whiskers"; eating wontons is called "eating longan". Eating dumplings is called "eating dragon ears"; eating rice is called "eating dragon seeds", and so on. These foods, whose names are related to dragons, all embody people’s wishes for the dragon’s blessing.