Yuan
night
section
In the Commentaries on the Interpretation of Texts, there are:
"Yuan, for the beginning; supper, for the night."
Lantern, meaning the first full moon night of the New Year.
From this night on, the moon moves west and spring returns to the earth.
Lantern Legend
The fire tree and silver blossoms, the star bridge iron lock open.
In China, the first lunar month is the first month, and the ancient night was called "supper", so the fifteenth day of the first full moon of the year was called "Lantern Festival".
As early as 2,000 years ago in the Western Han Dynasty, the fifteenth day of the first month has been valued, and the activity of the Han Wu Emperor on the night of the first month of the first month to sacrifice "Taiyi" at Ganquan Palace is regarded by posterity as the precursor of the sacrifice of the gods on the fifteenth day of the first month. Later, when Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty created the "Taichu Calendar", he listed the fifteenth day of the first month as a major festival, and by the time of Emperor Wen of Han, it was officially named the "Lantern Festival".
After that, the Lantern Festival flourished in sui, Tang and Song dynasties, and has been flourishing for a long time.
In Taoist legend, on this day, the celestial official who is in charge of the fate of the world and presides over the justice of life and death will personally visit the human world to inspect good and evil and bless the human world.
Therefore, on the day of the First Yuan Festival, people burned lanterns and posted couplets in order to greet the Heavenly Officials. The upper link is "auspicious and there is more than enough", the lower link is "blessed by the heavenly officials" or "blessed by the heavenly hundreds", and the heavenly officials are worshipped in the hope of the gospel.
In fact, "yuan" is the meaning of "first", indicating the beginning, and as the saying goes, "one yuan resumes, everything is renewed". Therefore, the Shangyuan Festival has become the real beginning of the year.
Lantern poetry
"Looking at the Moon and Looking Away"
Don Zhang Jiuling
The sea is born with a bright moon, and the end of the world is at this time.
The lover complained about the night, and even thought of each other at night.
Extinguish the candle and fill the light, and the cloak feel dewy.
Can't afford to give away, but also sleep in the dream of a good period.
"Sheng Cha Zi , New Year's Eve"
Song Ouyang Xiu
On New Year's Eve last year, the flower market was lit up like day.
The moon is on the willow tip, and the person is about after dusk.
On New Year's Eve this year, the moon and lights are still there.
Not seeing last year's people, tears wet spring shirt sleeves.
Wrap tangyuan
On the day of the Lantern Festival, there are different customs in various places, but the most traditional custom in most places is still the indispensable bowl of tangyuan.
Let's follow Fang Zai to learn the method of tangyuan!
Prepare cooked black sesame seeds, white sugar, butter, glutinous rice flour, water and other ingredients.
Glab the cooked sesame seeds in a blender.
Place the sugar in the butter and heat it over water until dissolved into a liquid.
Let the butter melt for three minutes, pour in the sesame powder, stir well and refrigerate.
Add boiling water to the glutinous rice flour, stir the dough while adding boiling water, and knead the dough until it is smooth and soft.
Take a small ball of glutinous rice dough, add the sesame balls, and slowly tighten the seal.
Roll the finished rice balls on top of the dried glutinous rice flour and evenly dip the dry powder.
Bring the water to a boil and add the finished rice balls.
After seven minutes, a bowl of tangyuan with fragrant lips and teeth is ready!
Lantern Moon
After visiting the lantern party, look up at the bright moon in the sky, and meet thousands of eyes in the air to share this round of bright moon.
Let's take a look at what fascinating celestial phenomena there are in February!
Hello New Year
Affected by the epidemic, many families cannot be reunited during this Lantern Festival and are suffering. Countless paramedics are fighting on the front line, battling death, only to snatch more lives from its hands.
Wang Zengqi once said: "The family sits idly, and the lights are amiable." ”
So, on this special Lantern Festival, please slow down, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and go out less.
Please believe that all the good will come with the spring wind, when everything will recover and the spring will warm the earth. May you and I be able to hold on to the years until the epidemic recedes and the spring is shining.
Edit: Guan Yubin
Typography: Guan Yubin
Cover design: Guan Yubin
Riddle design: Fang Xiaozai Cultural and Creative Studio
Image source: Network
Proofreaders: Yang Jia, Tian Xin, Zhang Qiyao, Chen Licheng, Li Xingyu