Tea picking in Grain Rain: There is a custom of picking tea in Grain Rain in the south, and Grain Rain tea is also tea before rain, which is spring tea picked in Grain Rain season, also called spring catechu. The moderate temperature and abundant rainfall in spring, coupled with the recuperation of tea trees in winter for half a year, make the buds and leaves of spring shoots plump, green in color, soft in leaves, rich in vitamins and amino acids, and make the taste of spring tea fresh. It is said that Grain Rain tea on this day can clear fire, ward off evil spirits and improve eyesight. So no matter what the weather is in Grain Rain, people will go to Chashan to pick some new tea and come back to soak in water.
Sacrifice to the sea: Grain Rain Festival is also called the "strong festival" for fishermen to go fishing in the sea. [12] In Grain Rain season, the sea is getting warmer, and hundreds of fish go to the shallow sea, which is a good day to go fishing. As the saying goes, "Go online by Grain Rain." In order to go to sea safely and return home with a full load, fishermen will hold a sea sacrifice in the Grain Rain on this day and pray for Poseidon's blessing. Therefore, the Grain Rain Festival is also called the "strong festival" for fishermen to go fishing. In the past, every village had a temple of the sea or mother. When it's time for sacrifice, fishermen carry their offerings to the front of the temple for sacrifice, while others carry them to the seaside, beating gongs and drums, setting off firecrackers and offering sacrifices to the sea. The scene is very grand.
Go to Grain Rain: There was a custom of "going to Grain Rain" in ancient times. On this day in Grain Rain, young women went to visit relatives in the village, and some people came back after walking in the wild. The implication is to integrate with nature and keep fit.
Eating Spring: Before and after Grain Rain, Toona sinensis was mellow and refreshing, with high nutritional value, so it was said that Toona sinensis was tender as silk before rain. People say that picking and eating Toona sinensis in spring is "eating spring". Toona sinensis is generally divided into purple Toona sinensis buds and green Toona sinensis buds, especially purple Toona sinensis buds.
Sacrifice to Cang Xie, Wen Zu: According to legend, since the Han Dynasty, there has been a custom of offering sacrifices to Cang Xie, Wen Zu in Baishui County, Shaanxi Province. According to legend, Cang Xie created characters and made great contributions to the world. The Yellow Emperor was moved by it and took "Grain Rain" as his reward for creating characters. Since then, there has been a "Grain Rain Festival". Since then, every year during the Grain Rain Festival, nearby villagers will organize temple fairs to commemorate Cang Xie. [ 13]
Grain Rain posted a ban on killing five poisons. After Grain Rain, the temperature rose, and pests and diseases entered a high breeding period. In order to reduce the harm of plant diseases and insect pests to crops and people, farmers erected Grain Rain columns to pray for exorcism and good luck. This custom is very popular in Shandong, Shanxi and Shaanxi. In the old days, a Japanese Grain Rain painting, Zhang Tianshi, was posted on the door in Linfen, Shanxi, named "Forbidden Scorpion". Shaanxi Fengxiang Scorpion Curse is woodcut, which shows that there is a great demand. It was printed with the words: "In Grain Rain, in mid-March, scorpions showed off their bravado. God chicken bites, poisonous insects turn into water ... "In the center of the picture, the rooster holds the insect with a big scorpion under his paw. This painting is printed with a spell. The saying that the rooster cures the scorpion has been circulating among the people for a long time. Scorpions are also forbidden in Shandong folk customs. Xiajin county annals in the sixth year of Qing Qianlong: "Grain Rain, cinnabar forbids scorpions." The folk custom of "banning scorpions" reflects people's feelings of expelling pests and longing for harvest and peace.
Flower viewing, around Grain Rain, is also an important time for peony to blossom. So peony flower is also called "Grain Rain flower". "Three generations of Grain Rain visited peony", and peony appreciation became an important recreational activity in people's leisure time.