Why do we cut hair on February 2? The Dragon Raising its Head on February 2 has a good meaning.

Why do we cut our hair on February 2? There is a custom of getting a haircut on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar every year. It is said that getting a haircut on this day is more auspicious. Next, let’s take a closer look at it.

Why do you cut your hair on February 2?

Statement 1

There is a folk saying that February 2 is the day when the dragon raises its head. On this day, all things come back to life and hibernating dragons begin to move. Everyone believes that shaving one's head on this day will bring good luck and fortune. Cutting children's hair on this day is called "shaving a happy head", which means blessing the child with good health and making him successful when he grows up. Adults cut their hair on this day, which means bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, and wishing everything goes well and good luck. Therefore, there is a saying among the people that "Shaving the dragon's head on the second day of the second month will bring you a spirited year."

Explanation 2

Another theory is that it is related to the saying "If you get a haircut in the first month of the lunar year, your uncle will die", which says that cutting hair in the first month of the lunar year is unlucky. However, according to historians, not shaving hair in the first month of the lunar year is a way of "missing the past", and the saying "If you get a haircut in the first month of the lunar year, your uncle will die" is a misunderstanding of folk culture and has no scientific basis at all. However, the older generation in the folk still follows the custom of not getting a haircut in the first month of the lunar year, and the ban is lifted on the second day of the second month. Therefore, on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, every barber shop is crowded with customers and business is booming.

Other customs of the Dragon Raising its Head on February 2

Eat Dragon Food

Because the second day of the second lunar month is the day when the dragon raises its head, there are many particularities in the diet on this day. Most of the food on this day is named after dragons. For example, eating spring pancakes is called "eating dragon scales", eating noodles is called "supporting dragon whiskers", eating wontons is called "eating longans", eating scallion pancakes is called "tearing dragon skin", and so on.

Mustard Rice

There is a saying among the people of Wenzhou that "eat mustard greens rice on the second day of the second month, and you won't get scabies if you eat mustard greens rice". Because mustard greens taste bitter, using them to make rice represents that the New Year is over, and everyone is ready to work hard and strive for the new year. In addition, mustard greens rice is also a must-eat meal for the Hakka people in Yongding, Wenzhou on the 20th day of the first lunar month.

Dragon Lantern

In some riverside areas, there is a custom of "releasing dragon lanterns" on February 2. On that day, many people will make small boats with reeds or sorghum stalks, insert candles or put small oil bowls made of radishes on them, and when it gets dark, they will put them in the river and light them to light the way for the dragon. People use this custom to pray to the dragon god for good health and good luck in everything.

Granary

In the northern region, on the morning of the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, the head of the family will take a basket of wood ash from under his stove. He will then use a small iron shovel to scoop some of the ash and draw circles on the ground while walking and shaking the shovel. At least three circles, at most five circles, surround odd numbers, not even numbers. Then the grain is piled up in the circle, symbolizing continued good harvests in the coming year.