If the Spring Festival is a lively and festive show, then the Lantern Festival is undoubtedly the finale of this show. On this lively day, there are the romantic feelings of Ouyang Xiu of the Song Dynasty, "the moon is on the willow branches, and people meet after dusk", and the lively scene of the poet Su Weiwei of the Tang Dynasty, "the trees and silver flowers are closing, and the iron locks of the star bridge are opening." Therefore, many customs have been handed down. Below I have carefully compiled 5 customs. Let’s take a look.
Custom 1: Sacrificing sacrifices to gods and ancestors
The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month is also called the "Shangyuan Festival". During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, sacrifices were required on the 15th day of the first lunar month " "Taiyi God" is recorded in "Zizhi Tongjian": "The Lantern Festival in Shangyuan" may be based on the story of Taiyi in the Han Temple who fainted until daylight. Folks also believe that the Shangyuan Festival is a day for blessings from heavenly officials, so on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, lanterns need to be lit to offer sacrifices to heavenly officials to pray for good luck. In addition, according to folk customs, the first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year are the days of worship, and it is necessary to "burn incense and make offerings" to honor the ancestors. For example, after the Lantern Festival is cooked, first worship the ancestors, burn incense and kowtow, pray for blessings and blessings, and then reunite the family to enjoy family harmony. .
Custom 2: Eating Yuanxiao
Eating Yuanxiao on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is an important folk custom. Yuanxiao was first called "Floating Yuanzi". In ancient times, "Yuan" meant Kai It is the first month of the year, and "yuan" is a homophonic sound for yuan, which means reunion. Therefore, eating Yuanxiao is a good omen. Northerners like to eat "fried Yuanxiao", while southerners like to eat "boiled glutinous rice balls". Both Yuanxiao and glutinous rice balls are full of beautiful meanings of family reunion and happiness. During the Lantern Festival, with beautiful scenery and a good time, a bowl of sweet and glutinous Lantern Festival is indispensable.
Custom 3: Walking on the bridge and touching nails
In ancient times, the court would lift the curfew on the Lantern Festival. Women who usually cannot leave the house due to etiquette can still go out to watch the lanterns and play. At this time, the ladies in the boudoir were all dressed up beautifully, with pearls on their heads and colorful clothes. They carried lanterns in small groups and walked on the river bridge with graceful steps. This also created the "accidental encounter" "Opportunity for the right person. In the TV series "Ci of Daming Palace", Princess Taiping met her destined Xue Shao on the Lantern Festival. It can be seen that the Lantern Festival was the "Valentine's Day" in ancient times.
On this day, women who have not yet left the court will "walk on the bridge" to meet the person they love, while married women will also go out and "walk on the bridge". Their purpose is not to court a mate but to "seek a son". When walking on the bridge, they also pay attention to "touching the nails", and the "nails" connect to the "ding". It is said that if you touch the nails, you can give birth to a boy, which means that the offspring will be prosperous.
Ancient Picture 1
?Modern Picture 2
Custom 4: Giving children lanterns
On the Lantern Festival, you not only enjoy lanterns but also give them Lantern, because the pronunciation of "lamp" and "ding" are similar, so lanterns were often used to pray for children in ancient times. "Sending children's lanterns" is a special folk activity. That is, before the Lantern Festival, the mother's family will give colorful official lanterns to their newly married daughters. Some relatives and friends will also give lanterns to newlyweds who have not yet given birth. Home, to express the beautiful meaning of auspicious stars shining brightly and the birth of Linzi as soon as possible. If you are pregnant, your mother's family will also give you a pair of small lanterns to wish your child a safe pregnancy and a safe pregnancy. Each pair of lanterns must be paired with candles, and it is important to send a pair and not just one.
Custom 5: Making Shehuo Fire
Shehuo originated from the farming era, where "she" means the God of the Earth, and "fire" represents the God of Fire. It was originally used for sacrifices. A ritual of the god of agriculture. In ancient times, working people would gather around the fire on the 15th day of the first lunar month to worship the gods and pray for blessings through singing and dancing, hoping for good weather and good weather in the coming year.
With the development of society, "Shehuo" has gradually become a folk entertainment carnival activity during the Lantern Festival, such as walking on stilts, dancing dragons and lions, changing facial makeup, etc. Especially in the northern region, every year on the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, every village holds a lively social fire performance, which is festive and joyful, and also means that everyone's life will be prosperous in the coming year.
The Lantern Festival has a long history. During this grand traditional festival, some celebration activities will be held in various places. Although some folk traditions have no scientific basis, people mostly understand these traditional cultures through such way to express celebrations and best wishes for the festival and expectations for a better life. The Lantern Festival is here, and I wish everyone to be reunited, happy and safe.