What is the origin and custom of Lantern Festival?

As early as more than 2,000 years ago, during the Western Han Dynasty, the viewing of Lantern Festival began in the period of Emperor Hanming in the East. Ming Di advocates Buddhism. He heard that in Buddhism, there was a custom that monks watched the relic light lanterns to worship Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first month, so he ordered them to light lanterns to worship Buddha in palaces and temples that night, so that all the gentry and the people could hang lanterns. Later, this Buddhist ceremonial festival gradually formed a grand folk festival. This festival has experienced the development process from the court to the people, and from the Central Plains to the whole country. ?

Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty ordered the 15th day of the first month to be designated as the Lantern Festival. During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the sacrificial activities of "Taiyi God" were scheduled for the 15th day of the first month. Taiyi: the God who rules the universe. When Sima Qian created the taichu calendar Law, he had already identified the Lantern Festival as a major festival.

Customs of Lantern Festival:

1, lantern

Lanterns have the function of exorcism, and the light of lanterns can exorcise darkness, which is of great significance. Lantern Festival lights symbolize peace and a bright future.

2, put the sky lanterns

Putting on sky lanterns is also one of the customs of Lantern Festival. Sky lanterns, like lanterns, also entrust people with infinite hopes and blessings. At present, the Kongming lanterns used to be sky lanterns, but for the sake of safety, the custom of flying sky lanterns is gradually restricted or even cancelled.

Step 3 eat yuanxiao

Yuanxiao is a name in the north of China, and glutinous rice balls are eaten during the Lantern Festival in the south. Yuanxiao and Tangyuan are made in different ways, but their meanings are the same.

Whether it's Yuanxiao or Tangyuan, it's a round dessert. Eating Yuanxiao or Tangyuan on a full moon night is a symbol of family reunion, which means beauty.