當陽關陵廟會舉辦時大(da)量周邊縣市、外省以(yi)及(ji)海外信眾屆時涌來,體現這一民俗活動(dong)在(zai)增進社(she)區民眾文(wen)化認同方(fang)面具有的積極作用(yong)。
2013年(nian)9月27日,由(you)湖北當(dang)陽市盛(sheng)鵬達文化(hua)旅游(you)城開(kai)發置業有限公司主辦的,中國·當(dang)陽2013全球華(hua)人關公朝拜大典暨關陵廟(miao)會在當(dang)陽市關陵文化(hua)廣場舉行。
2018年9月27日,湖北(bei)當(dang)陽(yang)關(guan)陵(ling)廟會暨關(guan)公(gong)(gong)秋祭大(da)典在(zai)當(dang)陽(yang)市關(guan)陵(ling)文化廣場舉行。來(lai)自海內外的關(guan)公(gong)(gong)文化研究專家學者、關(guan)氏(shi)后裔、關(guan)公(gong)(gong)信眾(zhong)(zhong)及當(dang)地民眾(zhong)(zhong)共兩千余人參(can)加廟會活動。
主要(yao)(yao)活動(dong)有:祭(ji)祀(si)關(guan)(guan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、演關(guan)(guan)戲“當(dang)陽殺故(gu)事(shi)”、民間(jian)(jian)娛(yu)樂活動(dong)、許(xu)愿還愿、廟(miao)市等內容。關(guan)(guan)陵(ling)廟(miao)是(shi)(shi)祭(ji)拜關(guan)(guan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的重要(yao)(yao)場(chang)所,至民國年間(jian)(jian),這(zhe)里每(mei)年要(yao)(yao)舉辦兩次大(da)型(xing)廟(miao)會(hui)祭(ji)拜關(guan)(guan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。一是(shi)(shi)五月十三“單(dan)刀(dao)會(hui)”,傳說這(zhe)天是(shi)(shi)關(guan)(guan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的生日,也是(shi)(shi)關(guan)(guan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)單(dan)刀(dao)赴會(hui)日;二是(shi)(shi)中元節廟(miao)會(hui)。敬香者、各種民間(jian)(jian)藝人、小商販云集(ji),熱鬧非凡(fan)。政府官(guan)員(yuan)、社會(hui)名流要(yao)(yao)到場(chang)參(can)加祭(ji)拜儀(yi)式,儀(yi)式由(you)四位(wei)鄉(xiang)紳主持,一人念祭(ji)文(wen),一人司儀(yi),兩人負責通(tong)報前來(lai)祭(ji)拜者的頭銜。縣(xian)長(知府、知縣(xian))、社會(hui)名人,關(guan)(guan)姓長房代表到關(guan)(guan)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)像前敬香鞠躬。祭(ji)文(wen)念完,要(yao)(yao)燃放鞭炮。儀(yi)式結(jie)束后,廟(miao)里的和尚要(yao)(yao)念一天經文(wen)。
當陽關姓家(jia)族,是關公(gong)鎮守(shou)荊州時的(de)遺屬。關姓大房(fang)長子(zi)在清(qing)代被封為翰(han)林院博士,世代相襲,每年官府主持的(de)重大祭拜儀式都要(yao)出(chu)面參加。關家(jia)后裔敬祖活(huo)動也一直(zhi)沿(yan)襲。
當(dang)陽(yang)別名(ming)麥城,是三國蜀將(jiang)關羽遇害葬(zang)身之地。祭奠關羽,“鄉人(ren)墓祭,歲以(yi)(yi)為常”(嘉慶《荊(jing)門直隸(li)州(zhou)志·當(dang)陽(yang)冢(zhong)墓》)。清(qing)雍正(zheng)《湖廣通志》卷(juan)二十五(wu)記載:關帝廟,“以(yi)(yi)塋(ying)墓所在(zai)建立祠宇(yu),有司以(yi)(yi)時致(zhi)祭”。
當(dang)陽是關(guan)公葬(zang)身之地,玉泉山是關(guan)公最(zui)先(xian)顯圣(sheng)之地,玉泉山有全國(guo)(guo)最(zui)早的關(guan)廟“顯烈祠(ci)”,當(dang)陽城西(xi)有全國(guo)(guo)三(san)大關(guan)廟之一的中國(guo)(guo)關(guan)陵。因為與關(guan)公有特殊的緣分,當(dang)陽民(min)間對關(guan)公的崇拜千百年來久盛不衰。