What is the custom of celebrating Lantern Festival in Wuzhen?

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, commonly known as "the fifth day of the first month". Wuzhen people have the custom of walking the bridge. On the night of the Lantern Festival, people in Wuzhen travel in groups of three or five, and at least 10 bridges must be taken on the way. The route cannot be repeated.

This custom originated from an activity in the old society in which women were the main body to avoid disasters and eliminate worries, which was called "Walking Ten Bridges" or "Eliminating All Diseases".

At that time, after the women were dressed up, each of them took a crock that was usually boiled and threw it into the river when crossing the bridge, thinking that this would ensure that there would be no diseases and disasters in the new year. In modern times, the act of throwing medicine cans disappeared and evolved into a simple holiday amusement and blessing activity.