中国节庆文化丛书 二月二（中英文对照）

　　二月二，汉族民间传统节日。流行于全国各民族地区。此节风俗活动较多，又有花朝节、踏青节、挑莱节、春龙节、青龙节、龙抬头日之称。因时间在农历二月初二日，故称。当时及其后民间以刀尺、百谷、瓜果种籽、迎富贵果子等相问遗，并有挑菜、踏青、迎富等活动。元费著《岁华纪丽谱》：明以后，二月二又有关于龙抬头的诸多习俗，诸如撒灰引龙、扶龙、熏虫避蝎、剃龙头、忌针刺龙眼等节俗，故称龙抬头日。
　　龙是中国古代文化中地位显赫的神物，是祥瑞之物，更是和风化雨的主宰。俗云“龙不抬头天不雨”，龙抬头意味着云兴雨作，而天地交泰、云兴雨作是万物生育的条件。又古以为龙为鳞虫之精，百虫之长，龙出则百虫伏藏。二月初正值春回大地、农事开始之时，又是百虫出蜇、蠢蠢欲动之时，故民间有扶龙头、引青龙、剃龙头之举，又有食龙皮、龙须、龙子、龙鳞饼之俗，还有停针、忌磨等禁忌。

前言

章从农事说源流

　复合的二月二

　节俗流变

　二月二的流布

第二章二月二的风俗

　祈福纳祥

　节期饮食

　二月二，接宝贝儿

　二月二，逛庙会

第三章二月二的各地异俗

　京西“酬龙节”

　冀南“龙牌会”

　鲁北“娃娃会”

　鲁南“峄山会”

　粤南“卖身节”

　粤西南“梁镇南将军府炮会”

余论：渐行渐远的二月二

后记

《中国节庆文化》丛书后记

　　前言
　　过年的喜庆还余味缭绕，二月二佳节又如期而至。二月二因节期在农历二月初二而得名。此时，正值惊蛰前后，地气通透，万物复苏，经过漫长冬眠的动物日渐活跃。民间认为，龙是百虫之首，龙王能行云布雨，”二月二，龙抬头”象征着春回大地，雨水增多，农家生活燃起了希望。这就是为什么二月二是龙的节日，称为”青龙节””春龙节””龙头节”等节日的原因。
　　二月二的许多节俗活动，的确都与龙有关。龙是中华民族的图腾，其影响古往今来，贯穿大江南北。然而，在民众心目中，并非千龙一面，有的龙善良，有的龙调皮，有的龙懒惰，还有的龙极为凶恶。在二月二节日期间，人们对这主管雨水之神，或者崇拜有加，以香烛供品进行祭祀，或者设下种种禁忌，避免惹其不高兴。而对于那些懒龙、恶龙就不客气了，会想出各种法儿刺激它，如敲击梁头（敲龙头）、吃炒豆（崩龙眼）、吃面（吃龙须）、吃饺子（吃龙耳）、吃面饼（扯龙鳞）等，促其兴云布雨，令风调雨顺、五谷丰登，千万不能耽误职司。民间流传着这样一首儿歌：”二月二，龙抬头；大仓满，小仓流。”诸多敬畏龙王的节俗，并非是逢旱逢涝之时的功利性举动，而是对抽象之龙的体贴、呵护或调侃、戏耍，寄托着人们祈龙赐福、保佑风调雨顺、五谷丰登的强烈愿望。
　　传统农业的命脉在于雨水，更在于土地，于是祭祀土地的仪式也被安排在二月二这天。在我国很多地方，二月二节日期间都时兴种种土地崇拜的仪式，表达感恩土地、敬畏大自然、期望农业丰收的情感。在二月二节俗中，以”龙抬头”和”祭土地神”为核心的一系列民俗仪式活动，既传达了民众长期观察的农业经验，又积淀着其活泼的生活期望与生命理想。
　　二月二既是在传统农业文明的土壤中孕育而生，也是一年一度的农事活动的启动标志，是”出正月”的象征。到了”龙抬头”之日，整个年节就算结束，人们要从过年期间香烟缭绕的氛围中重新回到农家日常生活的轨道，新一年的春耕大忙宣告开始。
　　二月二又是一个典型的春天节日。仲春二月，东南风徐徐吹来，带来阵阵暖流，严寒的威势逐渐减弱，自然万物开始复苏。树木花草抽发新芽，沉睡的百虫蠢蠢欲动，大自然以鼓舞人心的温暖和生机取代冬日的严寒和肃杀，这恰与民众的生命体验形成呼应。人们总是在年节快结束的时候，特别留恋这段将逝的休闲欢聚时光，并由此对家庭生活乃至家园中的一切充满感怀。二月二的一些特有节俗与此密切相关，如敲门梁、扫墙角、敲打屋梁、不动刀剪等。二月二节俗，意在提醒人们体察自然的萌动、敬畏自然、体贴生灵。
　　二月二是一个平等温馨的节日。曾几何时，二月二的城乡大街上处处洋溢着炒豆的馨香，再贫困的家户也能感染到这种节日的喜庆。一样的节期，大致一样的饮食，体现了一种众生平等的思想，是对平时社区生活中贫富、贵贱等差序格局的弥合。
　　在传统乡村社会中，二月二是欢快的。伴随着红红的炉火，滚烫的豆子在一口大铁锅里噼啪作响，馋嘴的孩子们在一旁转来转去，妇女们从容不迫地拉呱谈笑，回味刚刚过去的年节，交流新的一年的打算。这种邻里间亲热互助的温馨画面，会永久地烙印在童年的脑海里，至耄耋之年仍难忘怀。二月二还是一种亲情的体验与交流，这天出嫁的闺女要回娘家，”二月二接宝贝，谁家不接掉眼泪”。在”从夫居”的社会模式中，回娘家是出嫁女子对娘家人思念的消解，是对原有生活空间和社会网络的重温，也是精神漂泊岁月中的翩然回归。唯其定期往来，遂对人生更觉一份踏实。当然，二月二不止协调基于血缘和姻缘而形成的亲属关系，还是对基于地缘而形成的社会关系的定期刷新。节日期间，邻里间要互相馈赠料豆等食品，并由此而形成了社区里礼尚往来的良好风俗，体现的是邻里之间互助互惠的和谐关系。
　　作为年的尾巴，二月二的设置积聚着民众的集体智慧，承载着他们千百年来形成的道德观念、精神需求、价值体系等，丰富的节俗中寓含着民众的生活逻辑和生命意识。过一回传统的二月二，我们的生活会更丰富，精神会更丰满。
　　Foreword
　　TheFestivalofFebruary2ndarriveswhenthejoyousmoodofChineseNewYearstilllingerson.Itfallsontheseconddayofthesecondlunarmonth.DuringthetimeofWakingofInsects,whentheearthbeginstobreathe,andalllivingcreatureswakeupfromhibernation.Itisbelievedthatdragonsaretheheadofallinsects,bringingcloudstotheskyandrainstotheearth.OnFebruary2nd,whendragonsraisetheirheads,springisbacktoearthwithmorerains,andfarmersbegintoprayforagoodharvestyear.Thedayiscelebratedasafestivalfordragons,suchisthereasonwhyitisalsocalled”DayoftheGodintheEast”,”DayoftheSpringDragon”and”DayofDragonHead”.
　　AnumberofcelebrationactivitiesonFebruary2ndarerelatedtodragons.AsatotemofChinesepeople,dragonsareworshippedinChinathroughoutallagestillthisday.Theimageofdragonvariesfordifferentpeoplesomearekind-hearted,somenaughty,somelazyandsomeextremelyferocious.DuringtheFebruary2ndFestival,thedragoninchargeofrainandwaterisworshippedwithjosssticks,incensesandcandlesastributes,orcarefullyguardedincaseitisoffended.Forthoselazyandevilones,peoplewouldirritateandtamethem,byhittingatticbeam(homophonicphraseashittingdragons’headsinChinese),eatingstir-friedgreenbeans(astheylooklikedragons’eyes),noodles(dragons’beards),dumplings(dragons’ears)andpancakes(dragons’skin),sothattheywillbringafavorableweatherforharvestinthefuture,insteadofneglectingtheirduties.Afolksonggoesasthefollowing:OnFebruary2ndwhendragonsraisetheirheads,barnsarefullwithgrainsandmouthsarefed.Allthesecustomsandactivitiesinvenerationofthedragonkingarenotconsideredasaprayfortemporaryprotectionagainstdroughtsandfloods,butaspeople’sdeepconcernandplayfullovefortheabstractimageofdragon,andtheirdesirefortheblessingsthatdragonsbringagoodharvest.
　　Wateristhelifebloodfortraditionalagriculture,soisthesoil.Therefore,thesacrificeritualtothegodoftheearthisalsoarrangedonFebruary2nd.SucharitualiscelebratedinmanyplacesofChinatoexpresspeople’sgratitudeandawetowardsthegreatnature,aswellastheirexpectationsforaharvestyear.Aseriesofritualsandactivities,ledby”Dragonheadraising”and”earthworshipping”,arecarriedouttocelebratethedayofFebruary2nd,whichreflectstheagricultureexperiencesobservedandcollectedbygenerationsoffarmers,andembodiestheirlivelylifeexpectationsandideals.
　　TheDayofFebruary2ndrootsfromtraditionalagriculturecivilizationandmarkstheendofJanuaryandthebeginningofayear’sfarmingwork.Whenthedayofdragonsraisingtheirheadsarrives,thewholeSpringFestivalHolidaycomestoanend,peoplereturntotheirdailyfarmingandabusyseasonofspringploughingbegins.
　　February2ndisatypicalfestivalinspring.Inthesecondmonthoftheyear,warmwindfromsoutheastblowsawaytheseverecoldness,andnaturewakesupfromitswinterdream.Treesandflowersunfoldtheirbuds,andinsectsarereadytocomeout.Aninspiringwarmthandvitalityofspringtakeplaceofthechillingandawfulwinterasaresponsetopeople’slifeexperience.AttheendoftheSpringFestival,peoplefindithardtosaygoodbyetoallthoseleisureactivitiesandhappyreunionsintheholidaytime,andcherishtheirtimespentinfamilytriflesandwitheverythingintheirhouseorgarden.SomecustomsofFebruary2ndareespeciallyrelatedtosuchfeelings,forexample,knockingonthedoorbeams,sweepingthecornersofthehouseandnon-touchingknivesorscissors.Thesecustomsallintendtoremindpeopleoftheircloserelationshipwithnature,andoftherespectandthoughtfulnesstheyshouldholdforit.
　　February2ndisacozyandsweetholiday,whenthedelicioussmelloffryingbeansdriftsinallstreetsandlanes;eventhemostimpoverishedfamilyischeeredupbythefestivalatmosphere.Peoplepoororrichallsharethesamedayofcelebrationandenjoysimilarfestivalfood,whichrepresentsapursuitofhumanequalityunderasocialhierarchysystemofprejudiceandoppression.
　　Intraditionalcountrylife,February2ndisajoyousday.Accompaniedbythebrighthearthfire,sizzlingbeansdanceupanddowninthecauldron,sweatwalkbackandforthandtheirmotherschattingaboutthepassingholidayandtheirplansforthenewyeareasily.Apictureoffriendlyneighborhoodstaysinachild’smemoryforallhislife,andwillstillbevividwhenhereacheshisseventiesoreighties.February2ndisalsoadaytorejuvenatefamilytieswhenmarrieddaughterscomebacktotheirparents,asanoldsayinggoes,”girlsarecominghomeontheseconddayofFebruary,otherwisetheparentsareleftheartbroken.”Duetothecustomofpatrilocalresidence,girlslivewiththefamilyofherhusbandwhenshegetsmarried;therefore,comingbacktotheparentalhomebecomesarevisittothelifeandpeopleshewasfamiliarwithsinceherchildhoodandaspiritualreturnafteryearsofbeingawayfromhome.Onlyregularvisitscanfillupthegapofdistanceandbringthepeaceofmindbacktolife.TheDayofFebruary2ndisnotonlyaboutkinshiptiedbybloodandmarriage,butalsoaboutsocialrelationshipthatneedsregularrefreshing.Duringtheholidayseason,neighborssendcondimentsandbeanstoeachotheraspresents,thusanicecustomof”courtesycallsforreciprocity”isformedinthisway,representingaharmoniousneighborhoodrelationshipofmutualhelpandbenefit.
　　FollowingthespringFestivalofNewYear,thefestivalofFebruary2ndembodiespeople’scollectivewisdomandcarriesontheirmoralideas,spiritualpursuitsandvaluesystem.Arichvarietyoffestivalactivitiesandcustomsimpliesthephilosophyandawarenessoflife.BycelebratingFebruary2nd,weareblessedwithamorecolorfullifeandawisermind.
　　章
　　从农事说源流
　　作为我国重要的传统节日之一，二月二历经千百年传承至今，曾有”龙抬头””青龙节””春龙节””龙头节””雨节””花朝节””开春节””震天节””中和节””土地公公日””伯公生日””填仓节””上工日”等别名。我国地域广袤，二月二在不同地域有着不同的节俗表现，至今在众多民族的日常生活中仍有着重要影响。
　　ChapterOne
　　Agriculture:OriginoftheFestival
　　AsoneoftheessentialtraditionalfestivalsinChina,theFestivalofFebruary2ndwascelebratedthousandsofyearsago,asitisinthemodernsociety.Ithasmanynamesotherthanthisone,suchas”DragonHeadRaisingDay”,”DayoftheGodintheEast”,”DayoftheSpringDragon”,”DayofDragonHead”,”DayofRains”,”BirthdayofFlowers”,”DayofSpringBeginning”,”SkyAwakeningDay”,”DayofBalance”,”BirthdayofLocalGodofLand”,”GrainBarnFillingDay”andeven”WorkingDay”.China’smassivelandbringsabouttheregionaldifferencesincelebratingtheDayofFebruary2nd,whichstillinfluencethedailylifeofvariouspeoplesinmanyways.
　　复合的二月二
　　AMelting-PotofFestivals
　　Ofallthetraditionalfestivals,theDayofFebruary2ndisalatecomer,asitisnotuntiltheTangDynasty(608-917)peoplebegintoobservetheday.ButtheoriginoftheDaycanbetracedbacktotheDayofWakingofInsectsandSpringEarthDayinthePre-QinPeriod.TheDayofFebruary2ndisjustlikeamelting-potthatintegratesavarietyoffestivalstakingplaceinFebruary,suchastheDayofWakingofInsects,SpringEarthDay,DragonHeadDay,DayofBalanceandtheBirthdayofFlowers.Thesefestivalsdiedoutduringthelongstretchofhistoryastheirculturalelementsandcustomswereassimilated,andfinally,theDayofFebruary2ndisestablished.
　　在中国传统节日的大家庭中，二月二是形成较晚的一个，学界一般认为其节期定型于唐朝。但二月二节日的雏形，可以追溯到先秦时期的惊蛰节、春社日等。其实，二月二是一个复合的节日，自古及今融汇了仲春二月的”惊蛰节””春社日””龙头节””中和节””花朝节”等。在历史长河的淘洗中，这些节日逐渐消退，终都融合在二月二节日中。