What is the date of the Dragon Raising its Head in 2019?

There are many legends among the Chinese folk. Among them, the saying about the Dragon Raising its Head mainly comes from ancient times. Legend has it that a dragon violated the will of heaven and responded to the rain-praying people without authorization. He was imprisoned in the sky prison. When he was released, the ancestors called it the Dragon Raising its Head to celebrate this day. So, when is the Dragon Raising its Head in 2019?

What is the date of the Dragon Raising its Head in 2019?

It was March 8, 2019, the second day of the second month. When the first of the seven stars in the Eastern Palace, known as "Dragon Horn", appeared on the horizon, it was the time of spring. Therefore, the ancients regarded its appearance as a sign of spring. This period of time coincides with the Rain Water solar term in the second month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which gives rise to the saying "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head." Bai Juyi, a famous Tang Dynasty poet, wrote in his poem: "On February 2, the rain had just stopped and the grass sprouted. A young man in light clothes and a fine horse rode a fine horse, and he wrote a single word at the beginning of the crossroads."

The custom of Dragon Raising its Head

On the second day of the second month, Chinese people have the customs of shaving their heads, offering sacrifices, worshiping the God of Wenchang, eating noodles, frying cakes, making popcorn, and eating pig heads. There are certain dietary requirements on this day. Because people believe in the "power of dragon", most of the food on this day is named after dragon. Eating spring rolls is called "eating dragon scales", eating noodles is called "supporting dragon whiskers", eating rice is called "eating dragon seeds", eating wontons is called "eating dragon eyes", and eating dumplings is called "eating dragon ears". These customs reflect people's strong desire to pray to the dragon for blessings, good weather, and a good harvest.

Food customs of “February 2nd Dragon Raising its Head”

On this day, ordinary people eat noodles, spring pancakes, popcorn, pork heads, etc. Different regions have different foods, but most of them are related to dragons. It is common to add the title of "dragon" to the names of foods, such as eating dumplings is called eating "dragon ears"; eating spring pancakes is called eating "dragon scales"; eating noodles is called eating "dragon whiskers"; eating rice is called eating "dragon seeds"; eating wontons is called eating "dragon eyes".

Eating spring rolls is called "eating dragon scales", which is very vivid. A spring roll that is bigger than the palm of your hand is like a dragon scale. The spring rolls are chewy and filled with lots of vegetables. Such as braised pork, pork elbow, smoked chicken, braised duck, etc., cut into thin strips with a knife, and match with several home-cooked dishes such as shredded pork with leek sprouts, shredded pork with spinach, green bean sprouts cooked with vinegar, stir-fried vermicelli, scrambled eggs, etc., roll them together in spring rolls, dip them in shredded green onions and noodle sauce drizzled with sesame oil, it is really fresh and refreshing. When eating spring rolls, the whole family sits together, puts the baked spring rolls in the steamer, and eats them whenever they want, while they are hot and happy.

There is also a saying about eating pig's head on the second day of the second lunar month. Since ancient times, offering sacrifices to gods have always required the use of three animals: pigs, cattle and sheep. Later, it was simplified to the heads of the three animals, and the pig head was one of them.