Editing Fuqing (section)

==Festival and special customs==
Fuqing has some special customs different from other areas in China, which reflects the local history and culture. Fuqing customs have four obvious influences:
 
(1) the legacy of ancient Yue;
(2) ancient Central Plains culture; 
(3) religion, especially Buddhism and Taoism; 
(4) in modern times, foreign culture

=== Spring Festival ===
Unlike other areas of China, the top part of the couplets traditionally put up during the [[Chinese New Year]] are white, not red. It is said that in 1562 on New Year's Eve, when the Japanese invaded Fuqing, people had to escape shortly after putting up the Spring Festival couplets. Upon returning after General Qi Jiguang's victory, people changed the couplets from red, which represents joy and celebration, into green or added white on the top to mourn for their family and friends who had died in the conflict.<ref name="FQ_Customs">{{cite web |url=http://www.fqqxb.com/Article/mswh/200901/181.html |title=福清春节习俗 |website=Fqqxb.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204114528/http://www.fqqxb.com/Article/mswh/200901/181.html |archive-date=2017-12-04}}</ref>

On the first day of the new year, people in Fuqing like many across the Eastern Fujian region commonly eat [[misua|xianmian]] ({{lang-zh|s=线面|p=xiànmiàn}}), an extra-thin wheat noodle, with the addition of two duck eggs to represent longevity. In the local language, the term for "duck egg" ({{lang-zh|s=鸭卵}}, [[Bàng-uâ-cê|BUC]]: ''ák-lâung'') has a pronunciation similar or the same as that of "suppress chaos" ({{lang-zh|s=压乱}}, [[Bàng-uâ-cê|BUC]]: ''ák-lâung''); thus the eggs represent peace and stability.<ref name="Fujian_Qifu">{{cite web |title=闽台传统祈福纳祥文化的主要内涵（上）_福州档案信息网 |url=https://daj.fuzhou.gov.cn/zz/wszt/tslm/msfq/202302/t20230213_4536599.htm |website=daj.fuzhou.gov.cn |access-date=7 May 2024 |date=13 February 2023}}</ref> The dish is often given the name 'peace noodles' ({{lang-zh|s=太平面|p=tàipíng miàn}}). A similar combination is also commonly eaten on birthdays, where it is dubbed 'longevity noodles' ({{lang-zh|s=长寿面|p=chángshòu miàn}}).

The second day of the new year is the day to visit and comfort the family that have lost their family members in the previous year ({{lang-zh|s=拜初二|p=bài chū'èr}}, alternatively in {{lang-zh|s=拜新座|p=bài xīnzuò}}). On that day, people thus avoid visiting families where nobody died in the previous year, regarding such a visit as unlucky.<ref name="FQ_Customs" /><ref>{{cite web |title=福清初二不能拜年，那就在家烰嗲饼吧！ |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/58426066_349454 |website=www.sohu.com |access-date=7 May 2024}}</ref>

=== Lantern Festival ===
The main customs of the [[Lantern Festival]] include eating yuanxiao, dragon and lion dance, Shehuo, lantern riddles, stilt, boat, row, and walking on the Li Bridge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tech-food.com/kndata/detail/k0195406.htm|title=福清元宵节习俗_中国习俗_习俗文化_食品科技网|website=Tech-food.com|access-date=27 June 2022}}</ref>

=== Winter Solstice Festival ===
The most important part of the winter solstice festival is making glutinous rice balls and preparing the red-orange and ten pairs of chopsticks. The red-orange stands for blessing and the ten pairs of chopsticks stand for family reunion. People also light a pair of red candles to represent prosperity.<ref>[http://www.sohu.com/a/122173019_482304] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

=== Tomb-sweeping Day ===
The essential part of the [[Qingming Festival]] is to offer sacrifices that are often made from paper, as well as fire incense and firecrackers in front of the tomb. After sweeping the tomb, people take some pine branches or flowers back home for good luck.