Feb 27 was China's traditional Longtaitou Festival, or Dragon Head Raising Festival, which falls on the second day of the second month on the Chinese lunar calendar each year.
The dragon is considered to be the deity in charge of rain in Chinese culture. Legends say that on this day the rain-bringing Dragon King will awake from hibernation and lift his head, which marks the start of spring and the farming season.
To celebrate Longtaitou, Chinese people like to pay tribute in nearby temples worshiping the dragon king, perform dragon dances, get a nice haircut for good luck, and fry beans to wish for a good harvest.
Although some of the ways of celebrating the festival are not popular any longer, Chinese parents have never forgotten the tradition of getting their babies a haircut on the day. Yesterday morning, a dozen young kids were waiting for a haircut at a barber in Meihu community in Wuxi's Binhu district.
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A barber gives a boy a haircut to celebrate the Longtaitou Festival in Meihu community in Binhu district, Wuxi, on Feb 27. The festival falls on the second day of the second month of the Chinese lunar calendar each year. [Photo by Huan Yueliang/ wxrb.com] |
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A child gets his haircut in Meihu community in Binhu district, Wuxi, on Feb 27. Other traditions on the festival include performing dragon dances and frying beans. [Photo by Huan Yueliang/ wxrb.com] |
