Author Profile

Name: Lin Yanxuan

Position: Financial Manager

Hometown: Shantou City, Guangdong Province,China

Vision of Struggle: Not stepping on others' footprints, only seeking one's own direction, not forgetting the original intention, thus achieving consistency.

My hometown is in Chaoshan, where there are unique customs. As the saying goes, "Different customs every hundred miles, different traditions every thousand miles." In Chaoshan, the Spring Festival revolves around worshipping gods and ancestors. Starting from the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere in Chaoshan becomes increasingly strong. This period coincides with the time when the "gods" report to heaven, and people begin busy with thorough cleaning, hanging couplets, pasting window flowers, making oil cakes, and walnut cakes, all to welcome the new year and symbolize renewal.

On New Year's Eve, every household is extremely busy: buying chickens, ducks, geese, seafood, fish, rice cakes, as well as tangerines, green olives, and other fruits to offer sacrifices to ancestors. After paying respects to the ancestors, everyone can start gathering around the stove to have the reunion dinner. After dinner, everyone freshens up, wears new clothes, sets off firecrackers, distributes lucky money, and then gathers to drink tea and watch the Spring Festival Gala.

Chaoshan people are fond of worshipping gods, and another title for the gods is "Lao Ye" . The traditional folk sacrificial activity of "Ying Lao Ye" during the Chinese New Year is unique to the Chaoshan region. In my village, the "Ying Lao Ye" ceremony is held on the tenth and eleventh days of the first lunar month every year, dedicated to the "Shuang Zhong Sheng Wang" deity. There is a very special custom called "Zhi Nian" which means taking turns to be in charge just like a duty roster.

The traditional Sangtian Township is divided into seven communities: Dadongmen, Xiaodong, Daximen, Xiaoximen in Zhongtian Village, Yudong, Yuxi in Xitian Village, and Xiazhai in Nantian Village. "Zhi Nian" involves rotating responsibilities among these communities, with one community taking charge each year. Due to the joint rotation of Xiaodong and Yudong communities, each village takes its turn once every six years. Thus, there is the grand event of "Ying Lao Ye" every year, with a different community leader responsible each time. This year, it happens to be the turn of Yuxi community in Xitian Village. The day of the "Ying Lao Ye" procession is particularly exciting, with the scene filled with drumbeats, crowds of people, loong flags, decorative flags, children carrying flower baskets, lion dances, traditional Chinese martial arts performances, and Chaoshan operas and dances.

After the "Ying Lao Ye" ceremony, the next day (the twelfth day of the first lunar month) is when the "Zou Lao Ye" procession takes place. Before the official start of the "Zou Lao Ye" procession, there is a fun opening act known as "Ding." "Ding" is a homonym in Chaoshan dialect, which means to smash or hit. It involves using small stones to hit incense boats, symbolizing safety and smoothness. Therefore, it is also called "Ding Incense Boat".

On this day, right after lunch, all the villagers will gradually gather along the road where the procession of "Lao Ye" will pass. Each person holds a few small stones in their hands. When the auspicious time arrives, two people will run out from the temple of "Lao Ye": the first person carries a chicken in one hand and a sword in the other, known as the "path opener", during which no stones should be thrown. Only when the person carrying the grass boat (incense boat) on their head comes later, people on both sides start throwing stones towards the incense boat. It looks spectacular as if a rain of stones is falling! The elders say that hitting the boat with a stone can bless you with safety and smoothness in the coming year.

After the incense boat passes by, cleaners immediately come out to sweep the road, and then the formal "Zou Lao Ye" procession begins. These activities are all about praying for national peace, good weather, abundant harvests, and safe travels throughout the year.

The ancient Chaoshan rural custom, "Ying Lao Ye," embodies auspiciousness, happiness, harmony, and prosperity. Every year, the "Da Lao Re" in Chaoshan reflects a sentiment, a heritage, and a mission. The distinctive activities of "Ying Lao Ye," such as lion dances, traditional Chinese martial arts, and Chaoshan folk songs and dances, have enabled the splendid culture of the Chaoshan region to be inherited and promoted. This should be the power of cultural confidence and self-improvement.

About Kinghelm

Established in 2007, Shenzhen Kinghelm Electronics Co., Ltd. is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in the research, development, production, sales, and system solutions for Beidou satellite navigation and IoT terminal applications hardware. It is a member of the China Satellite Navigation Association, China Information Industry Chamber of Commerce, and Guangdong Connector Association. The company holds multiple Beidou invention patents and software copyrights. Mr. Song Shiqiang, the General Manager of Kinghelm Electronics, is well-known and respected in the semiconductor and Beidou positioning navigation industries.

With the motto "Kinghelm connects world," the company focuses on microwave and RF technology. Kinghelm's brand products, available at www.kinghelm.net, include Beidou GPS dual-mode antennas, Bluetooth antennas, WiFi, Zigbee antennas, NB-IoT, LORA, UWB, Beidou antennas, 4G, 5G antenna series, as well as matching RF coaxial cable connectors. Kinghelm's product range, now expanded to include board-to-wire connectors, board-to-board connectors, board sockets, plugs, small signal connections, switches, automotive and motorcycle wire harnesses, industrial, medical, research special cables, and customized non-standard products.