Pig feet with eyebrows are given to parents for their birthdays every leap year. Folklore expert Liao Dayi pointed out that the parts of pig feet have corresponding traditional symbolic meanings, and reminded not to buy the wrong one.

(Photo by reporter Wang Shuxiu)

[Reporter Wang Shuxiu/Tainan Report] Have you helped your parents live longer?

The leap month is an extra month. This year, it is the second month of the Rabbit Year in Guimao, and there are 384 days in the whole year. It is said that in a leap year, the number of days will decrease due to the lengthening of the days. Before the beginning of the leap month, the daughter wants to buy pig knuckle noodle noodles to add blessings to her parents.

Folklore expert Liao Dayi said that pig feet should be bought with front or back feet. In ancient rituals, there are also "eyebrows". Especially if the parents are healthy, both front and back feet should be bought.

Liao Dayi explained that in the early years, the concept of patriarchal preference was heavy. The husband was "in front" and the wife was "behind". Jia; if only the father wants to buy the front feet of pigs; if the father dies early and only the mother is left, then the hind feet of pigs are the only ones left, and raw pig feet are used in ancient rituals.

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Liao Dayi said that according to ancient rituals, the pig’s feet sent before the leap month were raw, and the raw noodle thread was wrapped in red paper and given to the parents, as a filial piety for their parents, and the noodle thread could not be cut for longevity; he explained , pigs are a great gift for the five animals, but whole pigs are expensive, and most people can’t afford them. In the early days, they replaced them with pig’s feet; nowadays, for convenience, they can be replaced with boiled pig’s feet and noodle noodles. The point is sincere filial piety ; If the parents are vegetarians or have no specific religious beliefs, they can cook noodles and wrap an even-numbered red envelope to represent it.

Liao Dayi emphasized that this year is the "Black Rabbit Double Spring Leap February" that only happens once every 19 years. Although there will be two February in leap February, in terms of etiquette and customs, it is "do 1 (do it in the first February) ) do not do 2", extending the life of parents is no exception.

There is still half a month left before the first day of leap February (March 22 in the national calendar), so if you want to add blessings to your parents, you must hurry up!