When is the exact date of the Dragon Raising its Head in 2020? Why does the Dragon Raise its Head on February 2?

Dragon Head Raising Festival is also called Spring Ploughing Festival, Agricultural Festival, Dragon Head Festival, and is also a traditional festival. On the second day of the second lunar month, many people choose to cut their hair on the day of Dragon Head Raising, because of the legend that "cutting your hair in the first month of the lunar year will kill your uncle." So when is the Dragon Head Raising Festival in 2020? Why is the second day of the second lunar month called Dragon Head Raising Festival?

What is the exact date of Dragon Raising its Head in 2020?

The Dragon Raises its Head is what we often call the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar. The specific date of the Dragon Raising its Head in 2020 is Monday, February 24, 2020, the Dingyou day of the Wuyin month of the Gengzi Year [Year of the Rat].

In ancient times, the Dragon Raising its Head was called Zhonghe Festival. The so-called "Dragon Raising its Head" means that after a long winter, all insects begin to wake up after hibernation. So the saying goes "On February 2, the Dragon Raises its Head, and scorpions and centipedes all show their heads."

According to folklore, the second day of the second lunar month is the day when the Dragon King, who is in charge of clouds and rain, raises his head. From then on, the rainfall will gradually increase. In ancient times, the second day of the second lunar month was also called the second day of the previous lunar month.

Why does the dragon raise its head on February 2?

The dragon with its head raised is an image formed by the stars in the sky. We all know that there are "28 Mansions" in ancient times. The "28 Mansions" can be divided into four groups according to the four directions of east, west, south and north, forming the "Four Symbols": Azure Dragon in the East, White Tiger in the West, Vermillion Bird in the South and Black Tortoise in the North.

The "dragon" in "dragon raises its head" refers to the Eastern Blue Dragon, which is a dragon-shaped constellation composed of seven stars: Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, and Ji. Among them, Jiao represents the dragon's horns, Kang represents the dragon's throat, Di represents the dragon's claws, Xin represents the dragon's heart, and Wei and Ji represent the dragon's tail. Therefore, "dragon raises its head" means that Jiao (i.e. Jiao 1 and Jiao 2) appears on the eastern horizon, while the other six stars, i.e. the dragon's body, are still hidden below the horizon.

"The dragon raises its head" means that the dragon has ended its dormant state, which means that from now on Yang energy will emerge from the ground, spring thunder will sound, the rain will increase, the temperature will rise, all things will be full of vitality, and spring ploughing will begin.

What to eat on February 2nd, the day of the Dragon Raising its Head

On the second day of the second lunar month, most folk foods are related to "dragon". For good luck, foods on this day are named after "dragon". For example, eating pig's head is called "picking the dragon's head", eating rice is called "eating dragon's seed", eating fried oil cake is called "eating dragon's gall", eating wonton is called "eating dragon's eye", eating noodles is called "supporting dragon's beard", eating dumplings is called "eating dragon's ear", meat filling means blessing, and vegetable filling is homophonic with talent. In addition, spring pancakes are also made with dragon scale patterns, called "dragon scale pancakes".

No needlework is allowed on the day of the Dragon Raising its Head, because the Azure Dragon will raise its head and watch the world on this day, and using a needle will hurt the dragon's eyes.