The roses bloom and the sun is red, and the river lights are lit up at the beginning of the night. With the grand opening of the 2024 Rose Products Expo in Pingyin, people's eyes are focused on this land of roses. At the same time, a unique cultural feast was quietly staged in Zhaizhuang Village, Yushan Street - the 4th Yellow River River Lantern Art and Culture Festival. This grand event, which integrates traditional folklore and modern civilization, has attracted countless eyes and injected more cultural factors into the 2024 Rose Products Expo.
On the afternoon of April 27, with the sound of war drums and thunder, the 4th Yellow River River Lantern Art and Culture Festival kicked off in Zhaizhuang Village, Yushan Street. Ling Li, member of the Standing Committee of the county party committee and director of the Propaganda Department, and Zhao Peng, deputy county magistrate, witnessed this moment with the villagers.
At the event site, the crowd was full of voices and lively. Wonderful programs such as Yangge twisting, playing with flower sticks, playing tricks, dragon dances, and recitations of the Yellow River culture were staged in turn, presenting a unique "visual feast" with folk cultural characteristics for the audience, and everyone looked forward to the arrival of the river lantern moment in laughter.
When the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the wide Yellow River, the golden light and the sparkling water surface reflected each other, Ling Li personally lit the main river lantern, which symbolizes hope and blessings, and passed this beautiful vision to the children, announcing the official opening of the "River Lantern" activity.
Subsequently, under the leadership of Zhai Haishan, secretary of the Party branch of Zhaizhuang Village, everyone recited the blessing words in unison: "The golden dragon is dedicated to Rui, and the world is full of blessings." The wind and rain are smooth, and the country and the people are safe. Each prayer is full of yearning and wishes for a better life, and also highlights the deep affection of the children of the Yellow River for their hometown.
The river lantern relay link pushed the event to a climax. Everyone stood in a row and passed the lanterns from the place to the bank of the Yellow River, and then the village elders carefully lowered them into the water according to traditional customs. At the same time, the professionals of the Chaoyang Rescue Team skillfully drove the boat to place river lanterns on the river, adding a different style to this cultural feast.
The activity of releasing river lanterns in Zhaizhuang Village has a long history, and there has been this custom since the Qing Dynasty. It is worth mentioning that the river lantern festival pays attention to the concept of environmental protection in the selection of materials, and all uses ecological and environmentally friendly food and vegetables as the main raw materials.
As night falls, the hustle and bustle turns to tranquility, one, two, ten, hundred...... Countless river lanterns drift along the Yellow River, and the lights and water shadows reflect each other. They carry people's hopes and blessings, slowly flow to the distance, and also spread the culture and spirit of Pingyin people to a broader world.
The 4th Yellow River Lantern Art and Culture Festival is not only a visual feast, but also a baptism of the soul. It allows people to enjoy the beautiful scenery at the same time, but also feel the profound heritage of traditional culture and the unique charm of folk customs. As one of the series of activities of the 2024 Rose Products Expo, it undoubtedly adds a strong cultural atmosphere and unique folk characteristics to the whole event.
In this land of roses in full bloom and river lamps, the people of Pingyin use their wisdom and diligence to inherit the cultural memory of thousands of years and write a beautiful chapter in the new era.