Every year, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the traditional festival of Chinese - the Lantern Festival. On this day, the full moon is reunited, and every family is immersed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere. But you know what? In addition to the well-known customs of eating lanterns and viewing lanterns, there are many lesser-known but equally culturally rich customs of the Lantern Festival. Today, let's walk into this festival full of mystery and legend and explore those eye-opening Lantern Festival customs!
1. Walk the bridge and touch the nails
On the day of the Lantern Festival, there is a special custom in some places - walking on the bridge and touching nails. It is believed that walking across bridges, especially ancient bridges, on the day of the Lantern Festival can pray for good fortune and good luck. Touching nails is a more special custom, people will touch and rub on the iron nails at the head of the bridge, which means "touching the nails to pass the disaster", which means that they can successfully overcome all kinds of difficulties in life.
Second, chase the rats and send the poor
Chasing rats and sending the poor is an ancient custom during the Lantern Festival. Legend has it that in ancient times, it was believed that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, rats would come out to move. Therefore, people will put some food in their homes to lure rats to come, and then drive them away, which means to send away poverty and usher in prosperity. This custom not only reflects the ancient people's yearning for a better life, but also contains awe and respect for the natural world.
3. Send silkworm flowers
In the Jiangnan region, there is a special custom during the Lantern Festival - sending silkworm flowers. Silkworm flowers are flowers cut from colored velvet, symbolizing the healthy growth and harvest of silkworm babies. On this day, the unmarried woman will come to the man's house with silkworm flowers in her hand and give the silkworm flowers to each other, which means to wish the other party a good harvest of silkworms in the new year, and also express her love. This custom is not only romantic, but also reflects the unique farming culture of the Jiangnan region.
Fourth, stealing green
In the Sichuan-Chongqing region, the Lantern Festival has a unique custom - stealing green. On this evening, young unmarried women would meet up in the vegetable garden to steal other people's vegetables. This is not really an act of stealing, but a custom that symbolizes good luck. It is said that a woman who steals vegetables will find a good luck in the new year, and the house of the person who steals the vegetables is considered a symbol of good luck. This custom is not only interesting, but also reflects the local people's love for life and a bright vision for the future.
5. Sacrifice doors, sacrifice households
In ancient times, the Lantern Festival also had the custom of sacrificing doors and households. People will set up altars in front of their homes to worship the door gods and household gods, praying for family safety and good luck. This custom reflects the importance that the ancients attached to the family and the reverence for the gods, and also placed people's expectations and wishes for a better life.
6. Step on stilts
Walking on stilts is a form of performance with folk characteristics during the Lantern Festival. Performers on high wooden stilts, dressed in colorful clothes and heavy makeup, dance to the sound of gongs and drums. This form of performance not only showcases the performer's superb skills, but also implies that people can move up and succeed in their careers in the new year.
7. Dragon and lion dances
The dragon and lion dance is one of the grandest performances during the Lantern Festival. Both the dragon and the lion are images of mythical beasts in traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing auspiciousness and strength. On the day of the Lantern Festival, people will wear dragon robes and lion clothes, hold dragon and lion props, and perform in the streets and alleys. With the rhythm of gongs and drums, the dragon and lion dance, tumbling and jumping, the scene is very spectacular. This custom not only shows the charm of traditional Chinese culture, but also means that people can be vigorous and prosperous in the new year.
Some of these Lantern Festival customs may not have you heard of, but they are all an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture. Through these customs, we can have a deeper understanding of the connotation and charm of traditional Chinese culture, and we can also feel the Chinese nation's yearning and pursuit of a better life. On the occasion of this Lantern Festival, you might as well walk into these customs to feel it!
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