L U N A R ・ C U L T U R A L ・ C U S T O M S

11 March 2024, is second lunar day of the second lunar month in the Chinese Calendar. It marks an extra significant Longtaitou Festival; a traditional Lunar festival that honours the ‘Dragon raising its head’.

The celestial dragon lives in waters of the earth and the sky. Bestowed with powers to deliver rain from the clouds, dragon reins supreme and is regarded as the Deity of Rain. Irrigation is of course an important factor in all matters of agriculture; the vital vapor of rainfall. Water brings fecund conditions and ‘abundant’ growth. Abundance nowadays often plays proxy to what we classify as wealth and prosperity. And in Feng Shui, Water represents Wealth.

This Festival is also more simply known as The Double Two Festival, as Chinese festivals follow the Lunar calendar. But agriculturists/farmers also follow the 24 Solar terms in the Solar calendar for pheonology and farming cues; hence why the solar calendar is commonly called the Farmer’s Calendar. On occasion this lunar festival syncs with the 2nd Solar Term of ‘Rain Water’, presently this year it’s the 3rd solar term, when insects awaken and hibernation ends. Regardless of which Solar term, the second lunar month always occurs in the Season of Spring. The essence of the Festival is the worship ritual of wishing for the ‘Spring Rains’ to deliver a good harvest in the coming months.

Homage to the ‘Dragon King’ is also common place, more specifically the Azure Dragon; this colour correlates with the direction of East and Spring. This year it’s extra special, as 2024 is a Dragon Year. A Double, Double celebration if you will, that only occurs every 60 years when the Heavenly Stem that co governs is the Chinese element of Wood— and technically Wood is denoted as the colour Azure!

It would appear Dragon appreciation isn’t exclusive to China. Check out this stunning manuscript painting from the famous Book of Hours that depicts agricultural pursuits during the month of March, when frequent March showers fall (see in the left upper corner). The painting also illustrates signs of the zodiac, Apollo holding the flaming sun, astronomical information for every day of the month of March — positions of the moon, the times of sunrise and sunset, etc. And the pièce de résistance — the Dragon that flies top right above the castle. Image :: Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry: Mars (March) 1412-16, Manuscript (Ms. 65), 294 x 210 mm, Musée Condé, Chantilly.

Since time immemorial Farmers’ consult the Chinese Almanacs (TONG SHU) at the Lunar New Year. The annual Tong Shu contained insights for what the year holds; new and full moon dates, solar terms and a picture of a Spring Ox with a Herd Boy. The pictorial image contained code for Weather omens would unfold in the year ahead. This dictated what kind of devotion farmers who offer at the Longtaitou Festival. Every year in my annual astrology Forecasts I include the weather insights - written at least 12 months prior. Due to the vast footprint, regions and countries this forecast includes its hard to track and detail in a short annual forecast, so this year I’ve fleshed out and followed up with a more detailed piece on weather forecast. Will farmers pray for more rain or less rain? Hint ; that depends on the number of dragon . . .

Other traditional folk customs conducted on Second lunar day of the Second lunar month (Double Two festival) included ;

• Women avoid sewing or doing needlework as needles could puncture the eyes of the dragon. In fact the eye of the dragon in paintings/sculptors is only drawn on a very specific day.

• In Guang Zhong province it’s considered the birth day of a Land God. Called Tudigong or Tudishen also known simply as Tudi' meaning ‘Soil-Ground’. He is a tutelary Deity, meaning a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. Firecrackers are set off and veneration with food offerings for good weather and grain harvest. Earth of course another vital component for agriculture.

• Plant ashes were scattered around the exterior and interior of homes. Peach stones were commonly used. Ash was also strewn around an earthen jug containing water, to symbolize inviting the dragon to provide enough rain for good harvests. Interestingly throughout the world, ashes are known as a fertility charm. In France homes are scattered with ashes to prevent thunder and lightening damaging their home. In Celtic regions it’s also used as a protection amulet against evil spirits.

• Devout follower’s of Lunar New Year customs are hankering for one thing - a haircut. On the second day of the second lunar month it’s deemed auspicious trim your locks, reward for refraining from a hair cut during the first Lunar month of the year.

• Dietary customs during festivals are also significant — offerings of food that include the word ‘dragon’ included to bring good luck and good weather all year round. Can you think of any?

Do you have a dragon sculpture/ painting in your home? Did you know it’s one of the most important symbols to correctly place in your home or business. Call us today and book a mini consult to find out exactly where to place to encourage prosperity. Or if you’re in need of a Space clearing ritual in keeping with another cultural custom observed at this time of year - to the ‘Driving away the Little Man'. Find out more about this particular tradition subscribers should read the 3rd solar term.

Living eye to eye with ancient wisdom

- FENG SHUI ISM