BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Sunday marks Longtaitou Day, a traditional day widely celebrated in China after the Spring Festival holiday. The day of Longtaitou, which literally means "dragon raises head", falls on the second day of the second lunar month.
Regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of Longtaitou vary widely, most of which are practiced to wish for a good harvest in the coming months. Also, it is a traditionally busy day for hair salons as many Chinese believe that a new hairdo on that day will bring good luck, or one prior to that day will usher in bad luck.
A similar festival is celebrated in Russia and Belarus during the week. Maslenitsa, a traditional holiday to celebrate the beginning of spring started on March 8 this year and lasted till March 14.
People celebrate the festival by making pancakes, making visits, sleigh rides, dressing up, bonfires, snowball fights, burning of the Maslenitsa Scarecrow, etc.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service■
