"Normally customers start to pour in during the afternoon," Zhang Ling, manager of the shop, said. "But today people were lining up outside the door in the early morning, long before the shop was due to open," she said.

Different legends surround longtaitou.

One says a merciful dragon summoned rain to help farmers without divine permission. The dragon was then held captive as punishment under a mountain but once a year the dragon raises its head to view the world.

Another legend says that anyone getting their hair cut before longtaitou will bring death to their uncles.

"According to tradition, Chinese people used to clean themselves and have their hair cut at the end of the year, to get rid of bad luck from the old year," said Xiao Fang, a professor of folklore at Beijing Normal University.

The second day of the second lunar month traditionally marked the end of the Chinese New Year in most parts of North China, said Xiao.

"As the days became warmer, farmers worked the fields more and they wanted more rain, a scarce commodity during spring in North China."

Other customs are also associated with the day.

Some people eat noodles as they believe it signifies a dragon's beard.

But, as with most customs, the old ways are dying out and many people, especially the young, have abandoned traditional beliefs.

"I went to the barbers today because my mother asked me to," a high school student said.

"I don't mind getting a haircut in the first lunar month," she said.

Even Xiao was less than fervent in honoring the tradition. "Several days ago I had my hair cut," he said.

"But I think it is fun that we have this tradition."

As most families have only one child, fewer people will honor the tradition in the future as uncles are in short supply to harm, Xiao said smiling.