The Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, Lantern Festival or Lantern Festival, falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year and is the last important festival in the Chinese Spring Festival customs. There are many legends about the origin of the Lantern Festival, among which the more popular ones include: Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty established it to commemorate the Ping Lu Rebellion; the Lantern Festival is a celebration of the first full moon night of the year; and the Lantern Festival originated from the Torch Festival. The customs of the Lantern Festival are rich and colorful, including eating Lantern Festival, admiring lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, dragon and lion dances, walking on stilts, etc.
The following are the main traditional customs of the Lantern Festival:
1.Eating Yuanxiao: As a food, Yuanxiao was first called "Fu Yuanzi" and later called Yuanxiao. Businessmen also euphemistically called it "Yuanbao". The "rolling" of Lantern Festival in the north and the "wrapping of glutinous rice balls" in the south both mean reunion, symbolizing the happiness of the whole family and their joyful reunion every year.
2.Appreciating lanterns and guessing lantern riddles: Arranging lanterns is a traditional custom during the Lantern Festival, which began in the Western Han Dynasty and flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. On the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month, red lights are hung high in the streets and alleys, and there is also a lantern riddle guessing activity. The riddles are written on slips of paper and pasted on the lanterns for people to guess.
3.Dragon and lion dance: Dragon and lion dance are common performances during the Lantern Festival, which means to ward off evil spirits, avoid disasters and pray for a good harvest. Lion dance can be divided into civil and martial arts. Literary dance expresses the tameness of the lion, while martial lion dance expresses the ferocity of the lion.
4.Stilt walking: Stilt walking is an ancient folk skill performance that has appeared as early as the Spring and Autumn Period. Performers can walk freely on stilts and perform various difficult movements.
5.Stilt walking: Stilt walking is an ancient folk skill performance that has appeared as early as the Spring and Autumn Period. Performers can walk freely on stilts and perform various difficult movements.
The customs of the Lantern Festival not only reflect the cultural traditions of the Chinese nation, but also place people's yearning and prayers for a better life. With the development of the times, the celebration methods of the Lantern Festival have also continued to evolve, but its core cultural connotation and festive atmosphere have always been retained and passed down.
