On the first full moon night of the Lunar New Year, people usher in the Lantern Festival, a festival rich in cultural heritage of the year. On this day, both the city and the countryside are decorated with colorful lanterns, which are filled with a festive and peaceful atmosphere.
In addition to the lively scene, the Lantern Festival also has many traditional customs and taboos, which not only reflect the historical inheritance of the Chinese nation, but also contain profound cultural connotations. Let's walk into this traditional festival together, explore the story and meaning behind it, and feel the charm and cultural heritage of the Lantern Festival.
One. 5. The significance of customs
1. Viewing lanterns and guessing lantern riddles:
Stunning landscape:Flower lanterns are not only a visual feast, but also the pursuit and appreciation of beauty. The lanterns are exquisitely crafted and have different shapes, adding infinite vitality and color to the festival.
Collision and enlightenment of thinking:Guessing the riddle is a kind of intellectual game, and participants need to use their minds to think flexibly and find the answer to the riddle, which is both an entertainment and a display of wisdom.
Symbol of Reunion Prayer:In the process of guessing the riddle, people sit together, sharing joy and laughter, symbolizing reunion and harmony, and praying for a better future.
2. Eat Lantern Festival or glutinous rice balls:
Family harmony and reunion:The Lantern Festival or Tangyuan symbolizes a complete reunion, and eating the Lantern Festival becomes a ritual for the family to enjoy together, which helps to enhance family affection and family harmony.
The moral of a good life:Lantern Festival and consummation are homophonic, implying a happy life and a bright future. When tasting the sweet Lantern Festival, people are happy and yearn for a better future.
3. Dragon and lion dances
Exorcism and Blessing and Harvest Celebration:The dragon and lion symbolize auspiciousness and strength in Chinese culture, and the dragon and lion dance is seen as a ritual to ward off evil spirits and pray for good fortune, as well as a celebration and expression of the joy of a good harvest.
Demonstrate teamwork and strength:The dragon and lion dances require the collaboration of multiple people, demonstrating the strength and spirit of teamwork and also helping to strengthen community and group cohesion.
4. Walk a hundred diseases or travel a hundred diseases:
Pray for Illness and Health Protection:Walking around a hundred diseases or traveling to a hundred diseases is an ancient folk activity, which means to drive away diseases and pray for good health, health and longevity. People pray at this time for good health, freedom from illness, and health and peace in the new year.
Enhance social and camaraderie:Participating in activities that walk or travel to a variety of diseases can not only exercise your body, but also enhance social interaction, deepen friendship, and contribute to the harmonious development of interpersonal relationships.
5. Sky lanterns and fireworks
Pray for peace and happiness:Lighting sky lanterns and fireworks is a form of prayer in which people release their wishes to the sky for peace, happiness and good luck in the coming year.
Dispel the darkness and bring the light:Lights symbolize light, and setting off sky lanterns and lighting fireworks can dispel darkness, bring hope and warmth, and also imply to ward off evil spirits and bless families.
Through these five customs, people not only celebrate festivals, but also inherit historical and cultural treasures, and place their yearning and prayers for a better life.
Two. 5. Interpretation and meaning of taboos
1. Don't kill:
The Lantern Festival taboo killing is based on the respect for life and the reverence for nature in traditional Chinese culture. On this day, animals are not captured or slaughtered as a sign of respect for life.
This taboo not only embodies the concept of "harmonious coexistence" in traditional Chinese culture, but also emphasizes the balance and harmony between man and nature. By respecting life, he expresses his reverence for nature, and at the same time prays for a safe and auspicious new year and the avoidance of disasters.
2. Do not wash your hair:
The Lantern Festival taboo hair washing is a traditional concept originating from ancient folk. It is believed that washing your hair on this day will wash away the good luck of the year and bring bad luck.
This taboo reflects the awe and importance of the ancients for the festival, and also reflects people's yearning and pursuit of good luck. By observing this taboo, one expects to be able to maintain good luck and avoid accidents and misfortunes in the new year.
3. Do not discard property:
During the Lantern Festival, it is forbidden to discard property because people respect and cherish wealth.
It reflects people's cherishing and attaching importance to material wealth, and also reflects the concept of "making the best use of things" in traditional Chinese culture. By following this taboo, people express respect for wealth and wish for good fortune and happiness in the new year.
4. Do not extinguish the lamp and candle
During the Lantern Festival, every household will light up lanterns and candles, which symbolizes light and hope. Therefore, the lamp should not be extinguished, and once extinguished, it should be lit immediately to maintain light and good luck.
The importance of light and hope is emphasized, reflecting people's pursuit of light, hope and good fortune. By keeping the lights and candles burning, people pray for a bright and auspicious new year.
5. Avoid quarrels and conflicts
The Lantern Festival is a festival of reunion and harmony, and people should avoid quarrels and conflicts on this day.
It emphasizes the importance of family harmony and social harmony, and embodies the concept of "harmonious coexistence" in traditional Chinese culture. By avoiding quarrels and conflicts, people pray for family happiness, social tranquility, and shared peace and solidarity in the new year.
With an in-depth understanding of the customs and taboos of the Lantern Festival, we can not only feel the charm and cultural heritage of this traditional festival, but also have a deeper understanding of the historical heritage and folk customs of the Chinese nation.
In this festive and peaceful festival, let us cherish the moment of reunion and wish the new year a happy and prosperous new year!