It is said that every year on the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon wakes up and raises its head. Because of this, the day is called “Dragon Head-raising Day” (Longtaitou). This year, it falls on February 21. Old people believed that after Longtaitou, there would be more rain. And rain is very necessary to farming. So Longtaitou was the start of spring and farming.

People have many ways to celebrate the Longtaitou festival. The most popular one is to have a haircut. Many believe that a haircut during the first lunar month may bring bad luck to your uncles—mainly your mother’s brothers. They hope getting a haircut on Longtaitou keeps them away from bad luck.

Among Chinese people’s festival traditions, there is always a place for food. During the Longtaitou festival, people eat food named after dragons. Noodles are called dragon’s beard (longxu). Dumplings are dragon’s ears (long’er).

People also hold activities like dragon dancing on the day. In some places, people make dragon lanterns too. Small red boats go down the rivers and carry the lanterns, which stand for people’s best wishes and good luck.

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In China, Teachers’ Day was first celebrated on September 10, 1985. Now people celebrate it on September 10 every year. On this special day, students usually give their teachers thank-you cards, flowers, fruits and other small gifts to show their respect and appreciation..

In the United States, Teachers’ Day is known as “National Teacher Day”. It’s on Tuesday during the first full week of May. The day is celebrated by students to show their appreciation for their teachers with flowers, thank-you cards and other gifts.

In India, Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5 in honor of the second president of India. September 5 is his birthday. Traditional songs are sung, poems are recited and dramas are performed by both junior and senior students.

In Russia, Teachers’ Day was celebrated on the first Sunday of October between 1965 and 1994. Since 1994, the day has been celebrated on the 5th of October, the same day as World Teachers’ Day. Students usually show their respect and appreciation with games, competion dramas, dance or little presents. Besides the activities, some schools reward their teachers for their efforts.

Teachers’ Day is celebrated in Vietnam on November 20th. It was first celebrated in 1958. Since 1982, the day has been named “Vietnamese Educators’ Day”. Students hold the Teachers’ Day parties at their schools to celebrate it.

The traditional Chinese Longtaitou Festival, or Dragon-Head-Raising Festival, falls on the second day of the second lunar(阴历的) month every year. This year it falls on March 4.

Ancient people believed that after this day, rainfall increases because the rain-ringing Dragon King has awakened from his winter sleep. A well-known phrase goes, “Er yue er, long tai tou, ” meaning, “On the second day of the second month, the dragon lifts his head.”

The most famous tradition is getting a haircut. Some believe that going to the barber(理发店) on this day avoids bad luck, while others believe getting a haircut during the first month of the lunar calendar brings bad luck. Another saying warns that cutting your hair in the first month will cause your uncle to die. Although today few pay attention to it, it was once tradition to line up outside barber shops on the day of Longtaitou.

People eat toufu balls in East China’s Fujian province during the festival, and often make tofu and vegetable balls to pray for family and business. Fried beans are the traditional festival fare for people in parts of Shandong province.