Most southern families are used to getting together to eat the traditional customs of jiaozi on the morning of the Spring Festival. It is said that Yuanxiao symbolizes family reunion, and eating Yuanxiao means family happiness and all the best in the New Year.
According to legend, in the spring of March, Lv Dongbin, the Eight Immortals, became an old man selling dumplings and peddled them by the West Lake. At this time, Xu Xian was passing by and asked for a bowl. Inadvertently, a dumpling rolled down the West Lake and was swallowed by the white snake. So the white snake became a fairy, a human being, and married Xu Xian.
Mahjong Tangyuan (1 1) According to legend, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had a favorite named Dong Fangshuo, who was kind and humorous. One winter, it snowed heavily for several days, and Dong Fangshuo went to the Imperial Garden to fold plum blossoms for Emperor Wu. As soon as I entered the garden gate, I found a maid-in-waiting in tears ready to throw herself into the well. Dong Fangshuo rushed forward to help and asked her why she committed suicide.
It turns out that this maid-in-waiting is named Yuanxiao, and there are parents and a sister at home. She has never seen her family since she entered the palace. Every spring comes, I miss my family more than usual. I think in front of my parents, I would rather die than be filial. Dong Fangshuo expressed deep sympathy for her suffering and assured her that she would try her best to reunite with her family.
On the fifteenth day of the first month, Chang 'an City was decorated with colorful lights, crowded with tourists and very lively. The parents of the maid-in-waiting Yuanxiao also took their sister to the city to see the lights. When they saw the big palace lantern with the words "Yuanxiao" written on it, they shouted in surprise: "Yuanxiao! Lantern Festival! " When Yuanxiao heard the shouts, she was finally reunited with her relatives at home.
After such a busy night, Chang 'an was safe. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was overjoyed and ordered that glutinous rice balls should be made for Vulcan every year on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of the first month, the whole city was decorated with lanterns and set off fireworks. Because jiaozi cooked by Yuanxiao is the best, people call it Yuanxiao, and this day is called Lantern Festival.
According to another legend, in 19 12, Yuan Shikai usurped the revolutionary achievements and became the great president. He wants to be emperor, but he is always on tenterhooks for fear of people's opposition. Because "Yuan" is homophonic with "Yuan", "Xiao" and "Xiao", and "Yuan Xiao" is suspected of "Yuan Shikai's annihilation", Yuan Shikai ordered that the Yuanxiao be changed to glutinous rice balls before the Lantern Festival in 19 13. This is the origin of the legendary name of glutinous rice balls.