When the Spring Festival just passes by, the Lantern Festival which is a traditional festival of
Han Nationality falls on the 15th of the first month of the lunar calendar. Lantern Festival, also known as Yuanxiao Festival,is the first important festival after spring festival.
On the day of Yuanxiao Festival, it is the first time when people see the full moon in the new year. It is traditionally a time for family reunion. The most prominent activity of the Yuanxiao Festival is the displaying of all types of beautiful lanterns. So the occasion is also called the Lantern Festival.
History of Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival has its origin in the
Han Dynasty. King Wen of the Western Han Dynasty officially designated the 15th day of the 1st lunar month as Lantern Festival, and during the reign of King Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Chinese began to celebrate this festival with lantern shows. During the Yongping reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty, King Ming, in an effort to promote Buddhism, ordered that lanterns be lit up in palaces and monasteries at night as tribute to the Buddha. Aristocrats and commoners alike were asked to hang lanterns at the front gates of their houses. Hence the name, Lantern Festival. The practice gradually became part of the Chinese folklore and is celebrated in pomp and pageantry. During the
Song Dynasty, “yuan xiao”, a kind of dumplings made of glutinous rice flour were invented. Such dumplings are boiled in water until they float. They are made exclusively in celebration of the Lantern Festival, which is also called “
Yuanxiao Festival”.
Things to do in Lantern Festival
During this festival, red lanterns can be seen everywhere and fireworks displays shining in the sky. Children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. Besides lanterns-appreciating and riddle-guessing, another important part of the Lantern Festival is eating small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour called
Yuanxiao, which is a symbol of family reunion, unity, affection, and happiness. The fillings inside the dumplings or Yuansiao are either sweet or salty. Sweet fillings are made of sugar, Walnuts, sesame, osmanthus flowers, rose petals, sweetened tangerine peel, bean paste, or jujube paste. A single ingredient or any combination can be used as the filling . The salty variety is filled with minced meat, vegetables or a mixture.
Ask Questions ?
