The Origin and Story of Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival originated from the folk custom of turning on lights to pray for blessings. According to data and folklore, the fifteenth day of the first month was paid attention to in the Western Han Dynasty, but it really became a national folk festival after the Han and Wei Dynasties. The rise of the custom of burning lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first month is also related to the spread of Buddhism to the east. During the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism flourished, and officials and ordinary people generally "lit lanterns for the Buddha" on the fifteenth day of the first month, and Buddha lanterns spread all over the people. It has been legal to set off lanterns on the Lantern Festival since the Tang Dynasty.

Story 1:

It is said that after Yuan Shikai stole the achievements of the Revolution of 1911, he wanted to be emperor again, but he was afraid of people's opposition, and he was always on tenterhooks. One day, he heard people selling Yuanxiao in the street screaming, "Yuanxiao!" " He thinks that the word "Yuanxiao" is homophonic with "Yuan Xiao" and is suspected of "Yuan Shikai being eliminated".

Reminiscent of his own fate, he banned the name "Yuanxiao" before the Lantern Festival in 19 13. However, the word "Yuanxiao" was not cancelled because of his will, and the people did not buy his account, so it was still circulated among the people.

Story 2:

According to legend, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had a favourite named Dong Fangshuo, who was kind and funny. One winter, it snowed heavily for several days, and Dong Fangshuo went to the Imperial Garden to fold plum blossoms for Emperor Wu. On entering the garden gate, I found a maid-in-waiting in tears, ready to throw herself into the well. Dong Fangshuo rushed forward to help and asked her why she committed suicide.

It turns out that this maid-in-waiting named Yuanxiao has parents and a sister at home. She has never seen her family since she entered the palace. Every spring comes, I miss my family more than usual. I feel that I can't be filial to my parents, so I might as well die.

Dong Fangshuo expressed deep sympathy for her suffering and assured her that she would try her best to reunite with her family. One day, Dong Fangshuo left the palace and set up a divination pavilion on Chang 'an Avenue. Many people are scrambling to find him for divination. Unexpectedly, what everyone wants is the signature of "burning us on the 16th day of the first month". Suddenly, there was a panic in Chang 'an. People are looking for a solution to the disaster.

Dong Fangshuo said, "On the night of the 15th day of the first month, Vulcan will send a goddess in red to visit the earth. She is the messenger who ordered the burning of Chang 'an. I will give you the copied poems and let the emperor do something. "

Say that finish, then dropped a red pillar and roared off. The people picked up the red post and quickly sent it to the palace to report to the emperor. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took it and saw that it said, "Chang 'an is robbing, burning the palace for fifteen days, and the supper is red." He was frightened and invited resourceful Dong Fangshuo.

Dong Fangshuo thought for a moment and said, "I heard that Vulcan likes to eat 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 Kyoto to pack jiaozi and worship Vulcan together. Then tell the subjects to hang lights together on the fifteenth night and set off firecrackers and fireworks all over the city, as if the whole city were on fire, so that the jade emperor could be fooled. In addition, inform the people outside the city to go into the city for 15 nights to watch the lights and solve problems in the crowd. "

Liang Wudi was very happy after hearing this, so he ordered him to do it according to Dong Fangshuo's method. On the fifteenth day of the first month, Chang 'an City was decorated with colorful lights, and the tourists were bustling 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, this day is called Lantern Festival.