Preface:
Long Head Raising Festival (February 2 of the lunar calendar), also known as Spring Plowing Festival, Agricultural Festival, Green Long Festival, Spring Long Festival, etc., is a traditional Chinese folk festival. Ancient people believed that Longs were in charge of rainfall, which in turn determined the farming harvest, and the farming harvest determined people’s living standards, and Longs became the most important “totem” in farming societies. In farming culture, “the Long carries its head” signifies the birth of yang energy, more rainfall, and the vitality of all things. Since ancient times, people have also used the day of the Long’s head as a day to pray for favorable weather conditions, to drive away evil spirits and disasters, and to bring good luck.
After the death of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Wu Ze Tian became emperor.
She deposed her two sons.
The Yu Di was very angry, so he ordered the Four Sea Longs to stop raining for three years as punishment for the mortal world.
As a result, the land became arid and the crops died.
People couldn’t even get water to drink, and life became very difficult.
The Jade Long in the Heavenly River saw all this and felt very sad.
He secretly drank the water of the Heavenly River and then brought rain to the mortal world, saving everyone’s lives.
But the Yu Di found out, and he was very angry.
So he struck the Jade Long down to the mortal world and pressed him under a great mountain.
A stone tablet was erected in front of the mountain, inscribed with: “The Jade Long broke heavenly laws by raining and should suffer eternal punishment on Earth. If he wishes to return to heaven, it can only be when golden beans bloom.”
People learned about the Jade Long’s plight and all wanted to save him.
They searched everywhere for blooming golden beans, but couldn’t find them.
Until one day, an old lady’s bag wasn’t tied tightly, and golden corn kernels spilled out onto the ground.
People discovered that these corn kernels resembled golden beans.
So, they decided to act together on the second day of the second lunar month, which is the Long Heads-Raising Festival, and pop corn kernels.
The Jade Long saw this scene and was overjoyed.
He shouted loudly, “Old man Tai Bai, look! The golden beans have bloomed! Quickly release me!”
Tai Bai Jin Xing looked and found that indeed the golden beans had bloomed, so he released the Jade Long.
The Jade Long leaped into the air and returned to heaven.
He once again brought rain to the mortal world.
Since then, popping corn (or soybeans) on the second day of the second lunar month has become a tradition.
This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation until now.
通过阅读中国神话、民间故事、历史典故、人物传记学汉语，简单易学，中英对照，适合初学者！
Learning Chinese through reading Chinese mythology, folk stories, historical allusions, and biographies is easy to learn and bilingual, suitable for beginners!