In the Ming Dynasty (1368－1644) and Qing Dynasty (1636—1912), the imperial family held this ritual in Ritan park every Spring Equinox. The Ritan park gradually became a common place for public recreation. However, the practice still exists among the public.

      犒劳耕牛

Rewarding cattle

There is an old saying in the folk that every minute on the day of Spring Equinox is worth a thousand bucks. Before the farmers start their new year's labor works, they always reward the most important "labor"-cattle. The custom of rewarding cattle is very common in the southern regions of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

 As the Spring Equinox comes, farm work starts and both the farmers and the cattle start to become busy. Farmers will reward cattle with sticky rice balls to express their gratefulness. Meanwhile, people will also make sacrifice to birds, to thank them for bringing signals for farm work and to ask them not to eat grains later in the year.

Half of spring has pasted

The weather is getting warmer

All good things are coming to you and

            say hi~      

来源：中国日报

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