What are the origins and customs of the Lantern Festival?
The Lantern Festival is one of China's traditional festivals. Over a long period of time, it has gradually formed a complete culture and customs, and has been talked about by people until now. So what are the origins and customs of the Lantern Festival? The Fortune Teller website provides you with more information related to the first month of the lunar calendar in 2018. You are welcome to learn more about it!The Origin of the Lantern FestivalThe fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival. Also known as the Lantern Festival, Yuan Ye, and Lantern Festival. According to legend, Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty (179-157 BC) would go out of the palace to enjoy himself with the people on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month to celebrate the fact that Zhou Bo put down the Rebellion of the Lü clan. In ancient times, two nights were called "yuan" and the first month was also called "yuan". Therefore, Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty designated the fifteenth day of the first lunar month as the Lantern Festival, and this night was called Yuanxiao. Sima Qian created the Taichu Calendar and listed the Lantern Festival as a major festival. It flourished during the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties. "Book of Sui·Music" states: "Every first month, all nations came to pay tribute, and they would stay until the 15th day in a theater outside Duanmen and inside Jianguomen, which stretched for eight miles, with plays set up as the theater stage." There were tens of thousands of people participating in the singing and dancing, from dusk to dawn, and ending at the end of the day. With the changes of society and times, the customs and habits of the Lantern Festival have undergone great changes, but it is still a traditional Chinese folk festival.The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that dates back to the Western Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. According to historical records and folk legends, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was already taken seriously in the Western Han Dynasty. The activity of Emperor Wu of Han offering sacrifices to "Taiyi" (Taiyi: the god who dominates everything in the universe) in Ganquan Palace on the first night of the first lunar month was regarded by later generations as a precursor to the worship of gods in heaven on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Lantern Festival customsGuessing Lantern Riddles on the Lantern Festival <br /> Every Lantern Festival, people in various places post lantern riddles, hoping that this year will be joyous and peaceful. Because riddles can enlighten the mind and are interesting, they are welcomed by all walks of life during the process of circulation. During the Tang and Song dynasties, various acrobatic performances began to appear in lantern fairs. In addition to lantern riddles and various kinds of singing and dancing, the lantern fairs in the Ming and Qing dynasties also added opera performances.Eat Yuanxiao during the Lantern Festival Eating Yuanxiao (Chinese glutinous rice dumplings) on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is a long-standing custom in China. Yuanxiao is also known as "tangyuan". Its preparation, ingredients and flavors vary, but the meaning of eating Yuanxiao is the same. It represents reunion, harmony and happiness, and a more prosperous life. There is a saying that harmony brings wealth. Family harmony and family reunion are such important factors for a complete family. Therefore, it is important to eat "Yuanxiao" with your family during the Lantern Festival. Dragon Lanterns on the Lantern Festival <br /> The dragon is the totem of China. The Chinese people worship the dragon and regard it as a symbol of good luck. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the festive atmosphere of dragon dancing, singing and dancing is spread to many places. Lion Dance on Lantern Festival <br /> Lion dance, also known as "lion dance", "lion lantern" or "lion dance", is often performed during festivals and festive occasions. In the eyes of the Chinese, the lion is a auspicious animal, symbolizing good luck and fortune. Therefore, the lion dance activity embodies the people's good wishes to eliminate disasters and seek good fortune. "Sending Lanterns" on Lantern Festival "Sending flower lanterns" is abbreviated as "sending lanterns", and its actual meaning is sending lanterns to children. That is, before the Lantern Festival, the daughter’s parents would send lanterns to her family, or relatives and friends would send lanterns to the family of a newly married couple who are infertile, in the hope of having a child, because “lantern” and “ding” are homophones. It expresses the hope that the daughter will be blessed with good fortune after marriage and give birth to a son soon; if the daughter is pregnant, in addition to the large palace lantern, one or two pairs of small lanterns should also be given to wish the daughter a safe pregnancy. Chasing away rats <br /> Chasing away rats is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, families who raise silkworms cook a big pot of sticky porridge. Some even cover it with a layer of meat. They put the porridge in bowls and place them on the ceilings and corners where mice are active. They put the porridge in bowls and chant something while putting it in their mouths, cursing the mice that they will have a miserable death if they eat silkworms again. It is said that if you do this, mice won't eat silkworms this year. Welcoming Zi Gu <br /> Zi Gu is also called Qi Gu, and is often called Toilet Gu or Keng San Gu in the north. According to ancient folk customs, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, people would welcome the toilet goddess Zi Gu and offer sacrifices to her, and predict silkworms and other matters. On the night of the Zigu Festival, people would make a life-size portrait of Zigu out of straw and cloth, and worship her in the pigpen between toilets at night. It truly reflects the thoughts and feelings of the working people, who are kind, loyal, and sympathetic to the weak. Lantern Festival: Offering sacrifices to the door and the house <br /> In ancient times, there were "seven sacrifices", and these are two of them. The method of sacrifice is to insert a willow branch above the door, insert a pair of chopsticks into a bowl of bean porridge, or directly place wine and meat in front of the door. Lantern Festival to get rid of all diseases "Walking away all diseases", also known as touring all diseases, dispersing all diseases, roasting all diseases, walking on a bridge, etc., is an activity to eliminate disasters and pray for health. On the night of the Lantern Festival, women make appointments to go out together. They walk together and cross every bridge they see, believing that this can cure diseases and prolong life. Stilt-walking on the Lantern Festival <br /> Stilt-walking parties are usually organized by the masses on their own initiative. The street parade begins on the 11th and 12th day of the first lunar month, implying that people should register for one of the many folk flower festivals this year. The street festival officially starts on the 15th day of the first lunar month and ends on the 18th. |
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