The Origin of China Yuanxiao Eating Tangyuan

The custom of eating glutinous rice balls on the Lantern Festival is related to a maid-in-waiting named Yuanxiao in the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

According to legend, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had a favourite named Dong Fangshuo. One snowy day, Dong Fangshuo saw a girl named Yuanxiao ready to jump into a well in the imperial garden. It turns out that Yuanxiao can't see her parents and sister at home since she entered the palace. Dong Fangshuo decided to try to eat Yuanxiao with his relatives.

One day, Dong Fangshuo set up a stall on Chang 'an Avenue for divination. However, everyone got the sign of "burning us on the 16th day of the first month". Suddenly, Chang 'an Avenue caused panic. People have demanded to solve the disaster. Dong Fangshuo said, "On the 13th night of the first month, Vulcan will send a goddess in red to burn Chang 'an. You can ask the emperor for a solution. ".Drop a red pillar and walk away. People picked up the red post and hurried to report to the emperor.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took a look and said, "Chang 'an was robbed, and the emperor's palace was burned for fifteen days, and the supper was red." Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty hurriedly invited Dong Fangshuo, and Dong Fangshuo said, "I heard that Vulcan loves sweet dumplings. Don't Yuanxiao in the palace often make dumplings for you? Let Yuanxiao package jiaozi on 15th night. Long live the incense and offerings, and order every family in Beijing to wrap jiaozi and worship Vulcan together. Then I was told to hang up lights on the 15th night and set off firecrackers and fireworks all over the city. It looked like the city was on fire, so that the Jade Emperor could be fooled. Inform the people outside the city and go to the city to see the lights for fifteen nights to solve the problem. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was very happy when he heard this, so he ordered it to be obeyed.

On the fifteenth day of the first month, Chang 'an City was decorated with colorful lights, crowded with tourists and very lively. The parents of the maid-in-waiting Yuanxiao also took their sister to the city to see the lights. When they saw the big palace lantern with the words "Yuanxiao" written on it, they shouted in surprise: "Yuanxiao! Lantern Festival! " When Yuanxiao heard the shouts, she was finally reunited with her relatives at home.

After such a busy night, Chang 'an was safe. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was overjoyed and ordered that glutinous rice balls should be made for Vulcan every year on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of the first month, the whole city was decorated with lanterns and set off fireworks. Because jiaozi cooked by Yuanxiao is the best, people call it Yuanxiao, and this day is called Lantern Festival.