During the reign of Emperor Yongping of the Han Dynasty (58-75 AD), when the Ming Emperor advocated Buddhism, it coincided with Cai Cheng's return from India to seek Buddhism, saying that on the fifteenth day of the first month in Mohatuo, India, monks gathered to pay tribute to Buddhist relics, which was an auspicious day to participate in Buddhism.
In order to carry forward Buddhism, Emperor Hanming ordered "burning lamps to show Buddha" in palaces and monasteries on the fifteenth night of the first month. Since then, the custom of putting lights on Lantern Festival has spread from being held only in the court to the people. That is, on the fifteenth day of the first month, no matter the gentry or the common people, lights are hung, and the city and countryside are brightly lit all night.
Lantern Festival customs are:
1, eat Yuanxiao.
Eating "Yuanxiao" on the Lantern Festival is a traditional custom in China. Yuanxiao, also known as glutinous rice balls, has a long history in China as a food. Yuanxiao is filled with white sugar, rose, sesame, red bean paste, yellow osmanthus, walnut kernel, nuts and jujube paste, and wrapped in glutinous rice flour into a round shape, which can be both meat and vegetarian and has different flavors.
2. Set off fireworks.
Setting off fireworks is an indispensable activity to celebrate festivals in China, and the Lantern Festival is no exception. When colorful fireworks shoot into the sky, the night sky suddenly becomes splendid and dazzling, and the fire trees and silver flowers on the ground and the earth form a beautiful picture, which is one of the favorite programs for people to watch on the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month.
3. Dance the lion.
The Chinese nation advocates dragons and regards them as auspicious symbols. Lion dance is an excellent folk art in our country. Every Lantern Festival or assembly celebration, people always come to entertain with lion dance, which is said to be popular in the south. This custom originated in the Three Kingdoms period and became popular in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. It has a history of more than 1000 years.