1、 Origin and History

The custom of grabbing Zhou originated in the Jiangnan region during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and gradually became popular throughout the country during the Tang and Song dynasties. As a district of Chongqing, the traditional culture of capturing Zhou customs in Kaizhou is deeply influenced by it. According to historical records, the Zhou grabbing ceremony was seen in ancient times as a way to predict a child's future prospects and interests, reflecting the family's good wishes and aspirations for the child's future.

2、 Ceremony process

The process of the Kaizhou Zhou Festival usually includes the following steps:

Preparation items: Parents will carefully prepare a series of symbolic items for their children before they turn one year old, such as books, pens, abacuses, coins, scales, silk, toys, etc. These items represent various meanings such as academic career, literary talent, business acumen, wealth, justice, worry free food and clothing, and happiness.

Setting up the venue: Parents will set up a grabbing area at home or in hotels, neatly placing prepared items in front of their children in a circular shape.

Ceremony: On the child's first birthday, parents will dress up their child in a particularly festive manner and place them among these items, allowing the child to freely grab one or several items. Parents and friends sit around, eagerly observing their children's choices.

Interpretation of meaning: After a child grabs an item, parents will interpret the child's future prospects and interests based on the symbolic meaning of the grabbed item. This stage is often filled with joy and anticipation, and also reflects the deep expectations of family members for their children.

3、 Cultural significance

The custom of grabbing Zhou in Kaizhou not only reflects the family's good wishes for their children's future, but also contains rich cultural meanings:

Value education: The placement of books, pens, and other items reflects parents' emphasis and expectations on their children's education. They hope that their children can achieve academic success and become useful talents in the future.

Pursuing wealth: The placement of items such as coins and abacuses implies parents' pursuit and expectations for their children's future wealth. They hope their children can have a prosperous life and a stable source of income.

Emphasizing fairness: The placement of items such as scales represents parents' expectations for their children's future fairness and quality. They hope that their child can become a just and selfless person, making contributions to society.

4、 Modern changes

Over time, while preserving the essence of traditional customs, the customs of capturing Zhou in Kaifeng have also incorporated many modern elements. In modern families, in addition to traditional options, modern items such as computers, mobile phones, and musical instruments are also added to prepare for the development of the times. In addition, with the popularization of scientific concepts, more and more families regard grabbing as a fun celebration activity, focusing more on the sense of ceremony and the joy of family reunion, rather than overly trusting the predictive effect of grabbing results.

The custom of "grabbing Zhou" in Kaizhou is a traditional custom with profound cultural heritage and extensive influence. It not only reflects the family's good wishes and aspirations for the future of the child, but also contains rich cultural connotations and educational significance. In modern society, we should cherish this traditional custom, and at the same time, we should rationally view its implied meaning and symbolic significance.