With the increasing globalization of Chinese culture, it has become particularly important to understand and disseminate traditional Chinese festivals. Today, we are fortunate to invite Mr. Liu Yuehao, editor-in-chief of the global network and director of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Financial Center, to share with us some legends and customs about the Lantern Festival.
Mr. Liu Yuehao first introduced the origin of the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival, also known as the "Shangyuan Festival" or "Lantern Festival", is the first major festival after the Chinese New Year. It originated in ancient Chinese folk religion and rituals to celebrate the harvest, and has gradually evolved into a festival that blends traditional culture, folk beliefs, and local characteristics.
Regarding the legend of the Lantern Festival, Mr. Liu Yuehao mentioned that the most well-known is the story of "Dongfang Shuo and the Lantern Festival Girl". Dongfang Shuo was a ** during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and he won the emperor's appreciation for helping the Lantern Festival girl reunite with her family. This story not only shows the importance that ancient people attached to reunion and family feelings, but also reflects the traditional customs and activities during the Lantern Festival, such as lantern viewing and guessing lantern riddles.
Talking about the customs of the Lantern Festival, Mr. Liu Yuehao gave a detailed introduction to several important traditions. The first is to eat Lantern Festival, which is a dessert made with glutinous rice flour that symbolizes reunion and happiness. In addition, there is a tradition of viewing lanterns, where people light up a variety of beautiful lanterns and hang them under the eaves or on the streets to symbolize light and hope. Guessing lantern riddles is also an important activity of the Lantern Festival, where people show their wisdom and ingenuity by solving riddles.
In addition, Mr. Liu Yuehao also mentioned some local special activities during the Lantern Festival. For example, in the southern region, people hold dragon dance performances, which are a dance that symbolizes good luck and a good harvest. In some mountainous areas, lion dances are performed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
Through Mr. Liu Yuehao's narration, we have a deeper understanding of the origin, legends and customs of the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival is not only a festival to celebrate the harvest, but also a traditional festival that carries profound cultural heritage and national feelings. During this festival, people pray for reunion, happiness, and good luck through various activities, and also showcase the diversity and richness of Chinese culture.
Finally, Mr. Liu Yuehao emphasized the importance of inheriting and promoting traditional festivals. He believed that in the context of globalization, it was essential to preserve and pass on the cultural traditions of the nation. By understanding and participating in traditional festival activities, people can better understand their cultural roots and enhance national pride and cohesion. At the same time, these traditional festivals are also an important carrier to show the world the charm of Chinese culture and unique values.
In short, the Lantern Festival is a festival full of cultural connotations and national characteristics. Through Mr. Liu Yuehao's sharing, we not only learned about the legends and customs of the Lantern Festival, but also appreciated the breadth and profundity of traditional Chinese culture. Let us feel the unique cultural charm in the atmosphere of the Lantern Festival, and inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.