"I've been sewing for over half a year,and I never expected my daughter to sell them all in just one day!"These words were spoken by Ren Zhenlan from Wangduihe Village,Shengzhuang Street,LuoZhuang District,Linyi City,Shandong Province.She sewed over three hundred"spring chickens,"which her daughter Zhang Yan sold like hotcakes on her social media circle.Many people even placed orders in droves.
According to the customs in the southern part of Shandong Province,elders sew"spring chickens"onto the hats and sleeves of children on the day of Lichun(the beginning of spring)to symbolize good luck and prosperity for the new year.Nowadays,this tradition is not commonly observed in urban areas.However,Ren Zhenlan's handcrafted"old item"unexpectedly gained such popularity.
Hand-sewing spring chickens is Ren Zhenlan's specialty.She became her mother's helper at the age of twelve,stitching shoe soles and clothes,and gradually became skilled in various needlework activities.In the1980s,after Ren Zhenlan got married,she became known as a skilled craftswoman in the surrounding villages,adept at embroidering pillowcases and cutting window decorations.
Ren Zhenlan skillfully transforms scraps of fabric into colorful spring chickens,earning praises from everyone who sees them."I learned to sew spring chickens from my mother when I was young.Everyone knew how to do it back then,but now there are fewer people who can sew them.I feel that we must preserve the traditions left by our ancestors,"says Ren Zhenlan,who is now68years old.She not only sews spring chickens for her own children every year but also gifts them to the children of her neighbors and relatives.
The establishment of the local Huanghe Market has given Ren Zhenlan a platform to showcase her skills once again.She plans to sew more spring chickens to sell at the annual market."It's not about how much money I can make;I just want to pass down this tradition and add some festivity to our new life,"she says.
Ren Zhenlan has gathered scraps of fabric accumulated over the years,even using a bedsheet from her wedding dowry that had never been used because of its bright colors.She estimates she has sewn over three hundred spring chickens,hanging them on her son and daughter-in-law's car.When her husband saw the baskets of spring chickens she had sewn,he remarked,"The streets are filled with modern gadgets,who needs these old-fashioned things?"Ren Zhenlan retorted,"Don't underestimate us common folk who may be uneducated and illiterate.We just want to bring good luck.Nowadays,with a better life,people pay more attention to these things!"
Ren Zhenlan's daughter supports her mother's endeavor.Seeing her mother build shelves to display the spring chickens for sale,she says with a smile,"Mom,it's the modern age now.Let me help you sell them online!"
Ren Zhenlan not only adheres to the old traditions in sewing spring chickens but also innovates new sewing techniques.She has made several improvements to the craftsmanship of spring chickens:firstly,by adding a pair of wings to make them more lifelike;secondly,by separately sewing the beaks of the chickens instead of cutting them out together with the crest,as the traditional method often resulted in soft beaks that deformed easily.Ren Zhenlan found yellow fabric,cut and folded it,used starch to stiffen it,and then let it dry,creating a pointed yellow beak.Thirdly,she uses real chicken feathers for the tails of the chickens,which she collects from her brother's chicken farm.After washing and drying them,she attaches them to the chickens'bodies.With their tails held high,the chickens look lively and spirited.
Ren Zhenlan's meticulous craftsmanship involves a total of twenty-six steps in sewing each spring chicken.Her dedication and passion make her spring chickens highly sought-after treasures as soon as they are displayed.This ordinary rural woman,with her innovative approach to traditional folk crafts in response to modern demands,has infused the traditional"spring chicken"with a lively new year atmosphere,showcasing the infinite charm and development potential of traditional culture.(Wang Ge,Wang Qinglong)
