The origin of the Lantern Festival The origin of Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which is the traditional Chinese festival Lantern Festival . Although the weather has been cold across the country these days, the New Year still brings new atmosphere to people.

Tomorrow is February 14th, which is also Isatis Root Festival, a festival of love that evolved from Valentine's Day in the West . During the 2003 disaster, Isatis root served as a mascot to convey love. Valentine's day, which has been around for more than a thousand years, is interpreted as great love through Isatis root.

The Lantern Festival is also known as the Shangyuan Festival, Yuan Ye or Lantern Festival.

The Lantern Festival originated in the era of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty . To celebrate the fact that Zhou Bo put down the Rebellion of the Lü clan on the 15th day of the first lunar month, Emperor Wen of Han would hold a parade on the fifth day of the first lunar month to celebrate with the people. And set this day as the "Lantern Festival". During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was designated as the day for worshiping the "Taiyi God" .

Buddhism was promoted during the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty . Coincidentally, Cai Yin had returned from India after seeking Buddhism. He said that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year, monks from the Indian kingdom of Magadha would gather to pay homage to the Buddha's relics, and that it was an auspicious day to visit the Buddha. Emperor Ming of Han issued an order that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year, temples should light lanterns to honor Buddha.

By the Tang Dynasty , the fifteenth day of the first lunar month became a more grand festival, lasting three days, and in the Song Dynasty it lasted five days. It was extended to ten days in the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, the festival was shortened to four or five days, but the wonderful folk activities were even more lively.

The main customs of the Lantern Festival are glutinous rice balls and lanterns . There are various kinds of glutinous rice balls to suit people's preferences. They can be used to express reunion. Glutinous rice balls are also often called Yuanxiao. There are also many different kinds of lights to choose from. The Kongming lanterns, which originated in Xiangfan, will also float in the sky with the wind.

As the climax of the Spring Festival series of activities, various festive activities can be carried out on the Lantern Festival, including folk lion dance, dragon dance, lantern riddles, and land boat racing.

The editor also wishes all friends a happy life here.