Today ushered in a rare double event of astronomy and folk customs. The vernal equinox coincides perfectly with the second dragon raising its head in the second month of the lunar calendar. The vernal equinox is ushered in at 22:46 that day. This calendar coincidence occurs only three times this century. The last time it appeared was March 21, 2015, and the next time it will not happen until March 20, 2045.This is an exquisite combination of astronomical laws and the lunar calendar. From an astronomical point of view, the vernal equinox is the precise moment when the sun reaches 0 degrees of longitude. On that day, the sun shines directly on the equator, and the global day and night are equally divided. From then on, the days in the northern hemisphere get longer and the nights get shorter, which is an important node for the growth of all things.
The dragon raising its head originated from ancient astrological observations. The ancients regarded the Eastern Canglong Qisu as an auspicious dragon. At dusk on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, Spica, representing the "dragon head", rose from the horizon, symbolizing the blue dragon raising its head. This festival is fixed on the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar. When the spring equinox of the solar calendar happens to fall on this day, this rare scene is created.
The two belong to solar terms and lunar festivals respectively. Due to the difference in the calendar cycles of the lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar, they only meet once every 19 years on average.
Spring represents the balance of yin and yang, half of cold and half of heat. It symbolizes harmony and stability, and the harmony of all things. It is a key node for recuperating the body and mind and planning the farming season.
The Dragon Heads Up, also known as the Spring Plowing Festival and the Spring Dragon Festival, symbolizes the rising yang energy, the awakening of stinging insects, and the coming spring rain. It carries the people's prayers for good weather and abundant grains, and is an important folk signal for the start of spring plowing.
The custom of shaving the dragon head is common across the country, which means saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, and bringing good luck. Children shave their heads to hope for healthy growth, and adults shave their heads to hope that everything will go well.
In terms of diet, they eat "dragon food" such as spring cakes (biting dragon scales), noodles (supporting dragon whiskers), dumplings (eating dragon ears), etc., which not only seek auspiciousness, but also conform to the light and seasonal health regimen of the Spring Equinox.
