The Lantern Festival, also known as the "Shangyuan Festival" or "Lantern Festival", is one of the traditional Chinese festivals. The festival has a long history and originated from ancient Chinese folk beliefs and customs. With the passage of time, the Lantern Festival has gradually developed into a folk festival integrating various activities such as worshipping gods, appreciating lanterns, guessing riddles, and having dinners.
The origins of the Lantern Festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty in China. At that time, there was a belief that the 15th day of the first lunar month was the day of "blessings from heavenly officials", and people held various sacrifices on this day to pray for happiness and health. During the Tang Dynasty, the Lantern Festival became an important festival, and the emperor would go out of the palace on this day to play and have fun with the people. With the passage of time, the customs of the Lantern Festival have gradually increased, and it has become one of the important cultural activities of the people.
During the Lantern Festival, people perform a series of traditional activities. One of the most important is lantern viewing and quizzes. Lantern viewing is one of the traditional customs of the Lantern Festival, where people make lanterns of various shapes and colors and hang them under the eaves or in the courtyard to pray for good luck. In addition, people write riddles on the lanterns, and riddles are another very interesting activity of the Lantern Festival. People show their wits and ingenuity by guessing riddles, which also adds to the fun of the festival.
In addition to lantern viewing and riddles, there are many other customs associated with the Lantern Festival. For example, eating Lantern Festival, dragon and lion dances, setting off fireworks, and so on. Among them, eating Lantern Festival is one of the most representative customs. Lantern Festival is a round food made from glutinous rice flour with a variety of fillings and a soft and sweet taste. During the Lantern Festival, people will eat Lantern Festival to symbolize reunion and happiness.
In addition to the above traditional customs, there are many stories and legends related to the Lantern Festival. One of the most famous is the story of "Dongfang Shuo and the Lantern Festival Girl". Legend has it that Dongfang Shuo was a minister during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, who was witty and good at solving puzzles. One year, during the Lantern Festival, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty held a guessing game and promised to reward those who guessed a certain official position. Dongfang Shuo solved all the riddles and won the game. When Emperor Wu of Han asked him what reward he wanted, he asked Emperor Wu of Han to marry him the Lantern Festival girl. The Lantern Festival girl is a palace maid in the palace, and she is beautiful and moving. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty agreed to Dongfang Shuo's request and gave him the Lantern Festival girl. Since then, Dongfang Shuo and the Lantern Festival girl have lived a happy life.
In addition, there is a legend about "Emperor Tang Ming and Yang Guifei". Legend has it that Emperor Tang Ming and Yang Guifei enjoyed the lanterns during the Lantern Festival, and Emperor Tang Ming came up with a riddle: "A thing is really fresh, the head is big and the tail is pointed, usually do not work, and always eat first", Yang Guifei replied: "This is a fly." Emperor Tang Ming laughed when he heard this. This legend reflects the ancient people's love and participation in the Lantern Festival quiz activities.
In short, the Lantern Festival is one of the traditional Chinese festivals with a long history and rich cultural connotations. By understanding the origin, customs, symbolism and related stories and legends of the Lantern Festival, we can better inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation. At the same time, the Lantern Festival is also an important festival for family reunions, and people can take the opportunity to reunite with their families and spend the festive season together. On the night of the Lantern Festival, traditional customs such as lantern appreciation, guessing riddles, and eating Lantern Festival have become a cultural symbol and spiritual sustenance, allowing people to feel the unique charm and spiritual connotation of Chinese culture in a happy and peaceful atmosphere. February** Dynamic Incentive Program