Children are usually the most likely to have their hair cut on Dragon Head-raising Day. [Photo/northnews.cn]

Feb 27 marks the second day of the second lunar month in the Chinese calendar, or the Dragon Head-raising Day, which is marked in most areas of China.

The dragon, a prominent totem (a spirit being or sacred object) and auspicious image in Chinese folk culture, is believed to control such natural elements as wind and rain.

On this day, the dragons “raise their heads” (or awaken) at the rumbling sound of thunder, a sign of upcoming rains that will revitalize the earth. Around this time, the earth is bursting with life, grass and trees are turning green and farmers are ready to plow the fields.

In ancient China, people worship the dragon god beside a river or a lake, praying for the spring rains to nurture their crops. People hope that dragons can bring more rain to facilitate spring plowing.

This holiday is also based on ancient astronomy. Ancient China used a constellation system called Twenty Eight Mansions to set the locations of the sun, moon and stars for the change of seasons. One constellation, called “the Double Dragon of the East”, was hidden all winter under the eastern horizon. But on the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon’s head emerged above the eastern horizon, a phenomenon called long tai tou in Chinese, which means the dragon has raised its head.

Traditionally, food eaten on this day was renamed after parts of the dragon. For instance, dumplings were called “dragon’s ears”, spring pancakes were called “dragon’s scales”, rice was called “dragon’s son” and wontons were called “dragon’s eyes”.

During the day, people usually choose to get their hair cut in a symbolic move to ditch the past and embrace the future. Another reason is that many Chinese still believe that if people, especially children, cut their hair during the first lunar month, they will bring misfortune even death to their mother’s brothers.

A barber shaves a man’s hair at a salon in Hohhot on Dragon Head-raising Day. [Photo/northnews.cn]

A boy has his hair cut. [Photo/northnews.cn]