Schemes of the Noble Households Chapter 47

According to the custom of the Jin Dynasty, the first day of the first lunar month is regarded as Rooster Day, and the seventh day of the first lunar month is regarded as Human Day. From then on, people celebrate the new year and everything is renewed.

In Jiankang city, as soon as cocks crowed and the sky brightened, voices could be heard on both sides of the Qinhuai River.

During the first month of the lunar year, tightly closed courtyard doors gradually opened, shops put up signs, and women and young ladies in colorful clothes walked out of their homes in groups, wearing brightly colored hair accessories on their heads. Most of them were cut from silk, and a few were pasted with gold foil. They were all cut into human shapes, symbolizing the festival.

When they meet each other, no matter they are familiar with each other or not, they will take off their hair accessories and give them to each other as a gift, which means blessing.

Occasionally, a handsome man would pass by and would be immediately surrounded by the ladies, holding hands. Some would take off their hair ornaments to give to him, or throw embroidered handkerchiefs at him. The silk fluttered gently in the air, like a colorful butterfly, and when it fell into the hands, the fragrance would immediately hit them.