The origin of the Lantern Festival:

The Lantern Festival originated from the "Torch Festival". People in the Han Dynasty held torches in the countryside to drive away insects and beasts, hoping to reduce insect damage and pray for a good harvest. To this day, people in some areas of southwestern China still make torches out of reeds or tree branches on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and hold the torches high in groups to dance in fields or drying fields. Since the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties, it has become more prosperous.

There are tens of thousands of singers and dancers participating, from dusk to dawn, and then stop at dusk. With the changes of society and times, the customs and habits of the Lantern Festival have already undergone major changes, but it is still a traditional Chinese folk festival.

Meaning: The meaning of the Lantern Festival is good luck, family reunion, good wishes for future life and longing for hometown.

The Yuanxiao eaten was often called "tangyuan" at first, because it floats on the water after boiling, which is really beautiful and reminds people of a bright moon hanging in the sky. The bright moon in the sky, glutinous rice balls in the bowl, and the reunion of every household symbolize reunion and good luck. Therefore, eating Yuanxiao expresses people's love for family reunion.

Lantern Festival Customs

1. Watching lanterns

The so-called watching lanterns means watching the lantern festival, which is all made up of lanterns. There used to be such a legend, The gods in the sky wanted to burn the lower world. Since the kind-hearted fairies told the people in the lower world, people came up with a way to use lanterns and hang lanterns in every house. In this way, the gods in the sky thought that the world was being burned. . So the custom of watching lantern festivals and hanging lanterns remains.

2. Eat Yuanxiao

Yuanxiao, also known as glutinous rice balls, is made of glutinous rice flour mixed by hand. Fillings can be added. The fillings are usually sugar, and black sesame seeds can also be added. Paste, etc., there are various kinds of fillings nowadays. Eating glutinous rice balls is one of the important customs of the Lantern Festival, because glutinous rice balls represent reunion and make the family happy and prosperous.

3. Lion dance

Lion dance is an excellent folk art in China. During the Lantern Festival or gatherings and celebrations, people come to celebrate with lion dance, which represents happiness and prosperity. fire.

4. Walking on stilts

Walking on stilts is a popular mass performance among the people. Every Lantern Festival, people will organize a group of people to perform on stilts to increase the festival. atmosphere.

5. Guessing lantern riddles

Nowadays, during the Lantern Festival, lantern riddles are played in various places, hoping to be joyful and safe. Because riddles can enlighten wisdom and are interesting, they are very popular among all walks of life in the process of spreading.