Lighting the way for the Lantern Festival
By Catherine Hong |
February 26, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE 15th day of the Lunar New Year is the Lantern Festival, which fell on February 24 this year. At night of this day we welcomed the first full moon of the Lunar New Year.
In Jiading District, there are three main aspects to celebrate the festival: Eating, lighting colorful lanterns and guessing lantern riddles.
Jiading residents used to eat "New Year's Greeting Soup" on that day. It is said the tradition originated 500 years ago. At that time, a teacher named Tang Shisheng was visited by his students during the Spring Festival. He always prepared some light refreshments for them.
However, Tang was not wealthy so when it came to the Lantern Festival there was not much left in his home to treat students. Tang's wife came up with an idea and cooked a soup with all the leftovers. Students found the soup was delicious. Tang joked that it was a "New Year's Greeting Soup." It soon became a local tradition passed down for many generations. Nowadays, of cause the local eat much better.
Lantern lighting is another big event for the festival. There are many types of lanterns. Some can be as big as 3 meters high and these are mostly seen at shopping malls.
The dragon, walking horse and Kongming lanterns are very traditional.
Guessing riddles is also a popular activity during the festival. It began in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). People write a riddle on a piece of paper, which is then stuck on a lantern for others to guess. Most riddles involve a study on Chinese characters. In recent years during some traditional festivals, many towns in Jiading have hosted riddle-guessing activities.
In Jiading District, there are three main aspects to celebrate the festival: Eating, lighting colorful lanterns and guessing lantern riddles.
Jiading residents used to eat "New Year's Greeting Soup" on that day. It is said the tradition originated 500 years ago. At that time, a teacher named Tang Shisheng was visited by his students during the Spring Festival. He always prepared some light refreshments for them.
However, Tang was not wealthy so when it came to the Lantern Festival there was not much left in his home to treat students. Tang's wife came up with an idea and cooked a soup with all the leftovers. Students found the soup was delicious. Tang joked that it was a "New Year's Greeting Soup." It soon became a local tradition passed down for many generations. Nowadays, of cause the local eat much better.
Lantern lighting is another big event for the festival. There are many types of lanterns. Some can be as big as 3 meters high and these are mostly seen at shopping malls.
The dragon, walking horse and Kongming lanterns are very traditional.
Guessing riddles is also a popular activity during the festival. It began in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279). People write a riddle on a piece of paper, which is then stuck on a lantern for others to guess. Most riddles involve a study on Chinese characters. In recent years during some traditional festivals, many towns in Jiading have hosted riddle-guessing activities.
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