Chinese Traditional Festival Series: Our Lantern Festival

Author: Peng Guoliang, Yang Liang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The (Water Splashing Festival) is celebrated in the southwestern ethnic minority regions of China and is quite famous. The fact that the festival revolves around splashing water indicates that the local area has abundant water resources. The Taklamakan Desert region in northwestern China certainly does not have a Water Splashing Festival. Deserts lack water. The origins of various festivals are often closely related to geographical environments. The renowned Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, if moved to the Nansha Islands, would likely be very difficult to hold. Different regions cultivate different customs, as evidenced by the variations in cuisine: "sweet in the south, salty in the north, spicy in the east, and sour in the west." However, while differences are the mainstream, minor variations are the distinctive features, such as the Lantern Festival and the Yuanxiao (sweet glutinous rice balls). Chinese festivals often emphasize "eating" as an external characteristic, and the Lantern Festival is no exception. People focus on eating Yuanxiao, making it a sweet and sticky festival, complete with a bowl of hot soup that delights people of all ages. The main activity of the Lantern Festival is eating Yuanxiao. Of course, it also includes outdoor activities such as admiring lanterns, solving riddles, and setting off firecrackers.