LANTERN FESTIVAL
Lin Lu and Huang Yuting
In Chinese tradition, the moon is greatly appreciated because it is thought to be pure and thought-provoking. Customarily, on full-moon nights, people would offer sacrifices or hold ceremonies. Thus, the Lantern Festival began on the 15th of the first month of the lunar year some 2000 years ago. On that day, people would make new resolutions, enjoy food, travel together, and the main activities included viewing lanterns, riddle-guessing, sightseeing, and performing lion and dragon dances.
The origin of the festival is full of legends, one of which can be dated back to Han dynasty _ Emperor Wen of Han made it a festival in order to commemorate a historical event. The second legend is from the Spring and Autumn Period. It was said that when passing by the Yangtze River, King Zhao of Chu State noticed a food item with red stuffing floating on the river. It later became the rice dumpling specially served on Lantern Festival.
As the third biggest festival, after Spring festival and Mid-autumn festival, the Lantern Festival attracts much attention in China. The most inviting food of the festival is rice dumpling, which is made of sticky rice and stuffed with bean paste, sugar or hawthorn, and shaped into a circle, implying family reunion or happiness. According to the distinctive cultures and traditions in different regions of China, rice dumplings are of two kinds _ Tang-yuan and Yuan-xiao _ the former more usual in the south, while the latter is seen more in the north.
Every family member treasures the opportunity to get together and make rice dumplings. What a happy time it is! But now it is a pity that Yuan-xiao or Tang-yuan are usually made by machines and frozen. The frozen ones offer huge convenience, but hinder the custom.
Since the Tang dynasty, people have been making a variety of colourful lanterns by hand. Besides illuminations, the lanterns have paintings, depicting all kinds of characters _ birds circling in the air, beautiful natural sceneries, etc.
The idea of people guessing riddles written on the lanterns has been observed since the Southern Song dynasty. The riddle-guessing is loved by everyone as it is very interesting. In addition, many riddles are threaded into novels and literary works to make them relevant to daily life. It was customary that some riddles were created metaphorically to reflect some thoughts in order not to offend the sovereign. Nowadays, many little towns still hold such activities for family gatherings.
Lion and dragon dancing is also common. Dragon, a propitious totem of China, symbolises Chinese peoples indomitable vitality. Lion, which is acknowledged as the king of animals, is said to be Bodhisattva Manjusris saddle horse. Such magnificent dances greatly cheer people up and give them inspiration. Chinas creativity once again is revealed through different types of dragons and lions.
Stealing vegetables is another event usually held by minority groups. Everyone, old or young, can be bold for they are allowed to steal vegetables on this day. This activity brings happiness to children, like Halloween in the West. On the day, when the game of stealing vegetables is on, thieves are not caught by farmers because it is believed that the act of stealing brings good harvest and the children stay healthy.
People still observe the Lantern Festival as a national carnival, fostering harmony in society and resolving conflicts, as well as passing on traditions. Thus, carrying forward the spirit of the Lantern Festival is crucial to Chinese culture.
The writers are from Dalian University of Foreign Languages,Liaoning, China.
