In the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, the twenty-third day of the first lunar month is given a special meaning, that is, the arrival of the Liaochan Festival. Although the way it is celebrated in modern society has undergone great changes, its position in people's hearts is still unshakable.
1. The origin and legend of the Liaochan Festival
Originating from the ancient farming culture, the festival was originally intended to pray for a good harvest and prosperity for people and animals in the new year. According to folklore, this day is the day when the Lord of the Stove goes to heaven to report on his work, and people can burn the bad luck of the year through the way of burning, and can also show their wealth to the Lord of the Stove, in order to seek the blessing of the Lord of the Stove.
Second, the celebration of the chancre festival
1.Burning fire: This is the core activity of the chancre festival. Every household will prepare firewood and grass in advance, and wait until the evening to light a blazing fire. Flames light up the night sky, symbolizing the wardening of the year's illnesses and calamities, and praying for a safe and auspicious new year.
2.Jumping over the fire: In the process of burning the fire, people will jump over the fire hand in hand, which means skipping the bad luck of the year and welcoming new hope and beginning.
3.Eat Liaochan Rice: On the day of Liaochan Festival, every household will cook a special pot of Liaochan rice. This meal is usually made from a mixture of whole grains, which means abundant grains and abundant life.
3. The cultural connotation of the Liaochan Festival
The festival is not only a simple traditional festival, but also a festival with profound cultural connotations. It embodies people's awe and gratitude for nature, yearning for and pursuit of a better life, and strengthening the cohesion and sense of belonging of family and community.
1.Awe and gratitude for nature: In the way the festival is celebrated, whether it is burning a fire or jumping on a fire, it reflects people's awe and gratitude for nature. Fire, as the earliest natural force mastered by human beings, is not only an important tool in people's lives, but also an object of awe and worship. Through the burning of fire, the chancre festival symbolizes people's awe and gratitude for nature, as well as people's love and expectation for life.
2.The yearning and pursuit of a better life: The festival is a festival full of hope and anticipation. The burning of the fire means to drive away the diseases and disasters of the year, and to pray for a safe and auspicious new year. Eating boiled rice means abundant grains and a rich life. These activities reflect people's yearning and pursuit of a better life.
3.Reinforcement of family and community cohesion and a sense of belonging: The festival is a holiday celebrated by families and communities. On this day, every household participates in the burning of the chancre fire, jumping over the fire hand in hand, and sharing the chancre rice. These activities not only strengthen family and community cohesion, but also strengthen people's sense of belonging. People express their love and dependence on their families and communities by celebrating the festival together.
Fourth, the modern evolution of the chancre festival
With the development and progress of society, the way in which the festival is celebrated is also changing. For the sake of safety and environmental protection, some places have abandoned the traditional way of burning fires and jumping over the fire, and instead set off fireworks or hold theatrical performances to celebrate. Although the way it is celebrated has changed, the status of the festival in people's hearts has not changed. It is still an important way for people to express their yearning and pursuit of a better life, and to strengthen the cohesion and sense of belonging of families and communities.
5. The meaning and value of the Burning Festival
As an ancient traditional festival in China, the Liaochan Festival not only carries profound historical and cultural connotations, but also reflects people's yearning and pursuit of a better life. It gives us a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture, and it also makes us cherish and respect our history and culture more. At the same time, the festival also makes us more aware of the importance of family and community, and makes us cherish and love our family and community more.
Overall, the festival on the twenty-third day of the first lunar month is a festival full of history, culture, and human touch. It allows us to pause in our busy lives, look back on the past, and look forward to the future, while also allowing us to value and respect our history and culture more. In the future, we should continue to inherit and carry forward this traditional festival, so that more people can understand and participate in the celebration of the Liaochan Festival, and feel the charm of this ancient festival together.