Zhuanghang Mutton and Shaojiu Folk Customs

Shanghai
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Zhuanghang Town, Fengxian District, is located in the southern suburbs of Shanghai, in the western part of Fengxian District, near the sea (more than 10 kilometers from Hangzhou Bay) and on the river (Huangpu River), with a riverside of 6 kilometers. The town has fertile land, rich products, numerous animal and plant resources, and a humid climate, abundant rainfall, and vigorous growth of aquatic plants, which provide sufficient food sources and unique natural conditions for raising goats and developing the sheep farming industry, and also form a local dietary custom with unique characteristics for the people of Zhuanghang to eat mutton and liquor. Mutton and liquor have become a traditional delicacy for the people of Zhuanghang to eat for fitness, entertain guests, and celebrate festivals. Whenever there are weddings, newborns, and other happy events in the local farmers' families, they will set up mutton banquets to entertain relatives and guests. Generally, families raise sheep for about a year before the wedding. By the time of the wedding, the sheep have grown to about 30 kilograms, which is the best time to slaughter and eat. The day before the wedding, invite the sheep butcher to slaughter the sheep for use. The cooking method is: first, after boiling and cooling into a paste, slice it into a bowl and serve it as a cold dish. There are also people who cut fresh mutton into pieces, braise or stir-fry it directly, and serve it as a main dish. The custom of eating mutton liquor has a long history in Zhuangxing. During the festivals, people in Zhuangxing have the custom of eating mutton and using mutton to worship their ancestors. During the Spring Festival and Qingming Festival, every household worships their ancestors, and one of the dishes is mutton. The best time to eat mutton liquor is during the Lesser and Greater Heat. In the early morning, groups of people flock to the town, holding homemade rice wine, to eat mutton liquor, drinking spicy liquor, eating steaming mutton, sweating profusely, full of enthusiasm, and this grand occasion lasts for more than a month. When the winter solstice comes, many farmers slaughter their own sheep and make mutton paste, which is eaten every day to increase the body's heat, drive away the cold and nourish the body. Zhuangxing people use mutton liquor to entertain guests to express their respect and enthusiasm for the guests. Even if the family is poor, they will go to the town to cut a plate of mutton to entertain the guests. Mutton liquor has also become an important theme of local folk literature, such as "The Origin of "Giving Sheep as Dowry", "The Legend of Mutton Wrapped in Lotus Leaves", "The Story of Sheep Liver Curing Eye Diseases", "The Origin of "Red-billed Green Parrot" (Spinach and Mutton Blood Soup)", etc., which express the local people's love for mutton liquor and the traditional virtues contained therein. Sheep breeding has been passed down from generation to generation. In the old days, farmers raised sheep in separate households. Today, farmers raise sheep in separate households, professional sheep farmers, sheep cooperatives and other places purchase sheep. The slaughter of sheep and the cooking of mutton are a combination of family inheritance and master-apprentice inheritance, but family inheritance is the main type and master-apprentice inheritance is secondary. In the old days, Tang's mutton and Wen's mutton were the most famous. Today, Tang's mutton, Feng's mutton, Han's mutton and Li's mutton are the most popular among diners.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

China tourist attractions related to the heritage