According to the rules of old Beijing, after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the new year is over. However, according to the traditional spirit of Chinese culture, the 16th day of the first lunar month is the day when the new year alternates with the old year, and is the meeting point of new hopes and old habits. On this day, there is a special event, that is, "Sending the New Year to the Lights".
The lamp sends three gases, and the Year of the Dragon is blessed". This proverb vividly depicts the custom of sending the lights off on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. The so-called "falling lantern" refers to the fact that after the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the lanterns and red lanterns hung during the festival are taken off and collected, indicating that the New Year Festival is sent away and the new year officially begins. "Sending three qi" refers to sending away "evil qi", "bad luck" and "bad luck" and ushering in good luck and blessings in the new year.
In the process of sending off the lanterns, people will carry out a series of ceremonies and activities to celebrate and pray for the New Year. One of the most important activities is "vinegar charcoal". It is said that a long time ago, it was believed that "vinegar charcoal" had miraculous powers, could ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. On the morning of the 16th day of the first lunar month, people will light a pot of vinegar charcoal fire in their homes to illuminate all corners of their homes to ward off all bad luck. At the same time, people will also sprinkle vinegar water in their homes, meaning "removing the old and clothing the new", praying for a safe and prosperous new year.
In addition, there are a number of other customs and activities that are also associated with the New Year's Day of Lights. For example, in some places, people will cut out various patterns or words from red paper and paste them on the wall or window to show good luck and ward off evil spirits. There are also local festivals that organize folk activities such as temple fairs, dragon and lion dances, etc., to celebrate and pray for them.
So, what is the cultural connotation of the custom of "dropping the lamp to send the New Year"? Why do people do this on the 16th day of the first lunar month? This is closely related to the philosophical ideas and folk beliefs in Chinese culture.
First of all, "Sending the New Year with the Falling Lights" embodies the philosophical idea of "repetition" in Chinese culture. In traditional Chinese culture, time is thought of as a cyclical process. The beginning and end of the new year are marked on the 16th day of the first lunar month. Through the ceremony of "sending the lantern to the new year", people bid farewell to the past year and pray for a new beginning in the new year. At the same time, this process also expresses people's belief in the endless cycle of time and the eternity of life.
Secondly, "Sending the New Year with Falling Lights" embodies the folk beliefs in Chinese culture. In traditional Chinese culture, red symbolizes auspiciousness, prosperity, and happiness. In the process of sending off the lanterns, people will cut out various patterns or words with red paper and paste them on the wall or window to ward off evil spirits and pray for good luck. At the same time, in the process of "beating vinegar charcoal", people will also light a pot of vinegar charcoal fire at home to illuminate the corners of the home to show that all bad luck is removed. These activities all reflect people's desire and pursuit of a safe, smooth and happy life.
Finally, the "New Year's Eve Show" also embodies the social values in Chinese culture. In traditional Chinese culture, the family is a basic social unit, and family harmony and prosperity are an important foundation for social stability and development. In the process of sending off the lanterns, people pray for the peace and happiness of their families through various rituals and activities. These activities are not only about personal life, but also about the embodiment and inheritance of social values.
To sum up, the custom of "sending the New Year with the lantern down" is not only a traditional cultural activity, but also a carrier and inheritance of culture. Through this activity, people not only expressed their New Year's wishes and understanding of time, but also passed on the philosophical thoughts, folk beliefs and social values of Chinese culture. Therefore, "sending the lantern to the New Year" is not only a simple custom activity, but also an important part of Chinese culture.
Nowadays, although the custom of "dropping the lantern to send the New Year" is still preserved in some places, it is not as popular as before. With the development of modern society and the change of lifestyle, some traditional customs and activities have been gradually diluted or ignored. However, as an important part of Chinese culture, "sending the lantern to the New Year" is still worthy of our attention and inheritance. We should publicize and protect this custom in various ways, so that more people can understand and participate in this activity. At the same time, we should also dig deep into the cultural connotation and spiritual value of this custom, so that it can radiate new vitality and vitality in modern society.
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