What are the customs in Henan?
As the birthplace of Central Plains culture, Henan has rich and diverse traditional customs. These customs not only reflect the profound historical and cultural heritage, but also show the life wisdom and spiritual outlook of the Henan people. The following is an introduction to some typical customs in Henan.
1. Traditional festival customs
Henan has rich and colorful traditional festival customs, among which the celebration methods of Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and other festivals are particularly unique.
| holiday name | Custom content | Regional characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Festival | Posting Spring Festival couplets, setting off firecrackers, eating dumplings, and worshiping ancestors | In northern Henan, there is a custom of "keeping the year old", while in southern Henan, people pay more attention to "paying New Year greetings". |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Eating rice dumplings, racing dragon boats, and hanging mugwort | Dragon boat races in Xinyang area are particularly lively |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Appreciate the moon, eat moon cakes, worship the moon | There is a custom of "burning towers" in Kaifeng area |
2. Marriage customs
Henan's wedding customs have a long history, and the process is cumbersome but full of ritual.
| wedding link | Custom content | Regional differences |
|---|---|---|
| propose marriage | The groom’s parents bring gifts to the bride’s house to propose marriage | Western Henan places emphasis on "combining eight characters" |
| Engagement | The two parties exchanged engagement gifts and held an engagement banquet | There is a custom of "giving big gifts" in eastern Henan |
| Welcome | The groom leads the wedding team to the bride's home to pick up the bride | There is a custom of "crying to marry" in southern Henan |
3. Food customs
Henan's food customs are unique, with pasta as the main food and a heavy taste.
| Diet Category | represents food | Customs and characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| staple food | Braised noodles, spicy soup, steamed buns | People in northern Henan prefer pasta, while people in southern Henan eat both rice and noodles. |
| seasonal food | Yuanxiao, rice dumplings, moon cakes | Every household makes traditional food during the festival |
| banquet | Eight bowls and water mats | Luoyang Water Banquet is famous throughout the country |
4. Folk art customs
Henan has rich and colorful folk arts and customs, including opera, dance, handicrafts, etc.
| art form | Representative project | Regional distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Opera | Yu Opera, Qu Opera | Popular throughout the province, especially Zhengzhou and Kaifeng |
| dance | Yangko, lion dance | Yangko is popular in northern Henan and lion dance is popular in southern Henan. |
| handicraft | Paper cutting, clay sculpture | Paper cutting in western Henan, clay sculpture in Huaiyang |
5. Funeral customs
The funeral customs in Henan are solemn and solemn, reflecting respect for the deceased.
| funeral part | Custom content | Regional characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement of mourning | Family members inform relatives and friends of the deceased | In eastern Henan, the eldest son personally announces the funeral |
| wake | Relatives and friends take turns waiting for the coffin | The wake time is longer in southern Henan |
| buried | Bury the deceased after the funeral | Pay attention to Feng Shui site selection in western Henan |
Henan's customs and culture have a long history, and they have both the common characteristics of the Central Plains culture and local characteristics. These customs are not only a reflection of the lives of the people in Henan, but also an important part of traditional Chinese culture. With the development of the times, some traditional customs are gradually evolving, but their core values are still passed down.
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