目莲母亲关进牢房刚好是二十九岁。福州人逢九 岁数都很犯忌。认为“九”是厄难的岁月。凡 父母长辈年纪逢九，晚辈均须送九。送拗九粥 为父母除灾去难，表示孝顺，所以又叫孝顺节。 It so happened that Mulian's mother was 29 years old when she was locked up in prison. Therefore people in Fuzhou regard the age containing the overt or covert "9"as a taboo number courting ill luck.When parents or seniors of a family reach such an age,it is dutiful for their children to show their filial piety by preparing Aogao Congee for them on the 29th day of the first month of the lunar calendar to counteract mishaps.Hence the day is also called Festival of Filial Piety. 目莲母亲关进牢房刚好是二十九岁。福州人逢九 岁数都很犯忌。认为“九”是厄难的岁月。凡 父母长辈年纪逢九，晚辈均须送九。送拗九粥 为父母除灾去难，表示孝顺，所以又叫孝顺节。 It so happened that Mulian's mother was 29 years old when she was locked up in prison. Therefore people in Fuzhou regard the age containing the overt or covert "9" as a taboo number courting ill luck. When parents or seniors of a family reach such an age, it is dutiful for their children to show their filial piety by preparing Aogao Congee for them on the 29th day of the first month of the lunar calendar to counteract mishaps. Hence the day is also called Festival of Filial Piety