During the Spring Festival, it is generally freezing everywhere, and Huizhou, Guangdong Province is no exception. However, the cold weather can't stop the Hakka people's enthusiasm for the Spring Festival. In the early morning of New Year's Eve (22nd), the elders of every household get up and get busy, clean up, slaughter chickens and ducks, prepare incense, chicken, pork, wine and other sacrifices at noon, and go to the ancestral temple to worship God, praying for good weather and peace for the whole family in the coming year.
"Dajishui" is a widely spread custom in Hakka areas. Refers to the water mixed with leaves, orange peel, grapefruit leaves, etc. It means safe and smooth. After washing Daji water, you are one year older, so you can only wash Daji water once a year. At two or three o'clock in the afternoon, the elders began to prepare to burn "Dajishui" to bathe the whole family.
Liao Haibing is 29 years old this year. His hometown is Liangjing Town, Huizhou. After graduating from primary school, he went to Hong Kong to study. So far, he came back for the first time for the New Year and stayed at his uncle's house. Smelling the unique fragrance of Dajishui, Liao Haibing sighed infinitely. He said: "After going to Hong Kong, there was still water washing a few years ago, but later it was gone, probably because there was no such atmosphere." Before going to Hong Kong, because his family was very poor, every New Year's Eve, he would cook with the children in the village, tie them together, divide the ingredients, and then sell them in the town at 50 cents each.
He said: "At that time, in the street by the river, there were rows of people selling water and materials, which was spectacular. We are especially looking forward to New Year's Eve. Selling water can earn tens of dollars, which is more than our profit. " After washing da ji water and putting on new clothes, Liao Haibing was busy "teasing" his elders (that is, begging for red envelopes) and sending them New Year greetings.