In the old days, when building a house, it was necessary to ask for the choice of "three decisions", the so-called "feng shui treasure land". First, determine the terrain; Second, we must look at the "disadvantages" of the past, and the "three evils" should be avoided most; The third is to set a date to break the ground and beam, "choose the ecliptic as an auspicious day" and say that "the most important thing is to wash your feet." After the initial decision, we have to make a special trip to review it. On the day (or a few days earlier) when the ground is broken, the "Yang Gong Fu" will be installed and the rooster will be sacrificed. After its completion, Ye Xiang will worship the "blessing" every day, and it will be dedicated for several years after its completion.

When erecting beams and columns, please ask craftsmen to "applaud", "spread grain and rice" and "spread rich harrow". The new beam should be hung with red cloth bags full of five grain seeds. Relatives and friends should congratulate each other and say "send tea". Friends can give money or things at will. In-laws give chickens, fish, meat, dried noodles or noodles, and they also help each other, which is called "giving work". The host has to hold a lot of banquets, that is, "falling rock wine" when the ground is broken, "Shangliang wine" when the beams and columns are installed, and "consummation wine" when they are completed.

In addition, we should also "pray for God" on the first and fifteenth day of each month, which is not only a respect for God, but also a hospitality for craftsmen. Because of all kinds of stereotypes, there is a saying that it is easier to buy land than to build a house. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, superstition became less and less, but giving gifts, congratulations and banquets to workers still prevailed.

2. Immigration customs

Folk relocation is called "excessive". Before dawn on an auspicious day, men mainly choose the fire burden. At one end is a pot filled with burning ashes and sprinkled with bran to make it smoky; At the other end of the laundry basket, there are incense burners, burning candles and ancestral tablets, and the incense burners are also filled with burning incense; Housewives hold rice retort with spatula, and rice, beans, peanuts, sesame seeds and rapeseed (or corn and wheat) are wrapped in red paper, which are collectively called "five grains"; Children and grandchildren take fire shovels, shovels and other cooking utensils, and each appliance should be labeled with red paper.

When going out, the householder goes first, followed by the housewife, setting off firecrackers. The head of the household walked and said, "Please come and live in a new house." Neighbors also set off firecrackers to congratulate them. Go out of the door of the new house and set off firecrackers and light the fire by the relatives at home arranged in advance. After entering the room, light candles and incense sticks and put the ancestral tablets in place. When moving, my daughter's home is not accompanied, and she can only enter the new house at dawn. At the same time, she should avoid meeting passers-by on the "fire" road so as not to meet her own good luck.

3. "Worship Nine" custom

Because "nine" and "dragon" are homophonic, Hakkas regard "nine" as a symbol of good luck. Especially important in marriage. When men and women meet and exchange invitations, they usually choose dates related to Nine. The mantissa of the engagement fee should be "nine", such as 1.999 yuan, and the wedding team should be filled with 9 people. All gifts should be nine parties for good luck. For the Hakka birthday celebration, we should make 8 1 or 360 birthday cakes, and all the dishes used are secretly cut into "369", such as three fresh soup, stewed dog meat (9), leek tofu and so on.

When you build a new house, you usually choose the ninth and eighteenth days. The number of floors and rooms in the completed building is also a multiple of 9, which means that we can live together for a long time. Because "nine" and "leek" are homophonic, children should eat leek when they go to school for enlightenment. After the Spring Festival, people who go out to work or do business usually leave home on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, hoping for good luck and longevity in the new year. Even Hakka folk songs use "leek" as a metaphor for "nine", such as: "Swallows carry mud across Jiujiang, and sisters send Langs abroad. Planting leeks on September 9, the two have a long friendship. "

Take an umbrella when you get married

There is a custom in Hakka that a daughter must have two paper umbrellas as a dowry when she gets married. Because the traditional umbrella character is an umbrella, there are many characters in it. An umbrella is used to send a daughter to get married, which means "having many children and grandchildren". When the son 16 years old, his parents will also give him a paper umbrella, because "paper" is homophonic with "son", and when it is opened, it is round, indicating that he has grown up and wants to start his own business, which indicates that everything will go well in the future.

5. Send a lamp to cover the lid

"Sending lanterns to cover bamboo slips" is a special holiday activity of Hakka people in southern Jiangxi. It is not only one of the contents of dancing lanterns and celebrating the Lantern Festival during the Spring Festival, but also an important part of Hakka marriage customs. During the Spring Festival of the following year (the 9th to 15th day of the first month), the bride's family, relatives and friends must present a "Kirin lamp" to the newlyweds, wishing them an early birth. In addition to holding a grand reception and banquet for the guests and distinguished guests, the husband's family must also hold an activity of singing and playing "Big Cover" that night.

reference data

Minnan language. The ancient and modern changes of Hakka residential buildings and relocation customs

Minnan Net-Hakka "Worship Nine" Custom

Minnan net-Hakka women's custom of opening umbrellas when they get married

Minnan language. Interesting Hakka wedding custom in southern Jiangxi: giving lanterns to cover bamboo slips.