The Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, is the first important traditional festival after the Spring Festival, with a long history and a long history. In traditional Chinese culture, the Lantern Festival is not only a festival, but also a cultural symbol that carries strong folk customs and feelings of family and country. Every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month, when the moon in the night sky is as full as a mirror, people will decorate themselves with lights and families to celebrate this night full of joy and hope. The purpose of this article is to explore the cultural connotation and traditional customs of the Lantern Festival, and to feel the unique charm of this ancient festival.
The origin of the Lantern Festival can be traced back to the Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago, and it was originally a ritual set up by ancient emperors to pray for the safety of the country and the people and the abundant harvest of grains. Over time, the festival gradually evolved into a grand folk celebration. By the Tang and Song dynasties, the Lantern Festival had become an official festival of the state, and not only grand celebrations were held inside and outside the court, but ordinary people would also enthusiastically participate, and its pomp and circumstance was unprecedented.
On the night of the Lantern Festival, whether it is the royal palace nobles or ordinary people's families, they will put up lanterns and place all kinds of lanterns. On both sides of the street, the fire trees and silver flowers, the lights are brilliant, forming a beautiful landscape. While admiring the lanterns, people will also look up at the full moon, placing good wishes for their future life.
Lantern Festival (customary name in the north) or tangyuan (customary name in the south) is an indispensable traditional food for the Lantern Festival. This round food symbolizes reunion and happiness, and is a must-have dish for family reunions. Whether it is sweet or savory, it carries people's yearning for a happy life.
Guessing lantern riddles is one of the most popular folk activities during the Lantern Festival. Lantern riddles are usually hidden in lanterns, and participants need to guess the answers through wisdom and imagination, which not only enlivens the festive atmosphere, but also enhances the communication and interaction between people.
The dragon and lion dance is a traditional Chinese folk art form and an important part of the Lantern Festival celebrations. Brightly colored dragons and lions shuttle through the crowd, accompanied by the earth-shattering sound of gongs and drums, implying that evil spirits and disasters are avoided, bringing good luck and happiness.
The Lantern Festival is not just a festival, but also a culture. It integrates various cultural elements such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, reflecting the Chinese's worship of nature, attachment to family, and pursuit of social harmony. Through a series of colorful activities, people expressed their love for life and their vision for the future.
The Lantern Festival, an ancient and vibrant festival, is not only a simple cultural heritage, but also a vivid embodiment of the spiritual culture of the Chinese nation. Today, although many traditional customs have changed, the Lantern Festival is still cherished and celebrated by the majority of people. It is not only a kind of inheritance of traditional culture, but also a kind of sustenance for the feelings of family and country. On this night of the bright moon and the fire trees and silver flowers, let us feel the charm of the Lantern Festival and look forward to a harmonious and beautiful future together.
Lantern Festival