Origin:
There was a maid-in-waiting named "Yuanxiao" in the palace when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was proclaimed. She lived in the palace for many years, missing her parents and spending all her days in Lacrimosa. Determined to help her, Dong Fangshuo lied to Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty that Vulcan burned Chang 'an on the 15th day of the first month on the orders of the Jade Emperor, and the only way to escape the disaster was to let "Yuanxiao Girl" make a lot of dumplings that Vulcan loved to eat on the 15th day of the first month, and all subjects decorated them with lanterns.
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty allowed the "Yuanxiao" girl to finally meet her family. Since then, the Lantern Festival has been formed, and the custom of eating glutinous rice balls in the Lantern Festival has spread at this time.
Extended data:
As a food, Yuanxiao has a long history in China. In the Song Dynasty, a novel food for the Lantern Festival was popular among the people. This kind of food was first called "Floating Yuanzi" and later called "Yuanxiao", and businessmen also called it "Yuanbao".
In ancient times, the price of "Yuanxiao" was relatively expensive, and a poem said: "Guests look at the Imperial Street with a hook curtain, and the treasures in the city come at one time. There is no way to go in front of the curtain, and no money can be returned. " The North "rolls" Yuanxiao and the South "wraps" Tangyuan, which are two foods with different practices and tastes.