Chinese Lantern Day was held at VDNKh

Chinese Lantern Day is a bright and colorful holiday that, according to Chinese tradition, ends the New Year celebrations.

The Chinese celebrated the New Year for two weeks, and here is the finale – Yuanxiaojie – the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the New Year and the approach of spring and is celebrated on the first full moon of the first lunar month. VDNKh presented an interesting program to the guests of the Lantern Festival: performances by Chinese drummers, dances with lanterns and fans, an origami master class, and a show of national costumes. A cheerful Panda danced with children and adults, as well as a favorite of the public – a red and gold Chinese lion.

Since the 10th century, the custom has spread in China to light colorful lanterns on this night. Streets and houses are decorated with paper lanterns of various shapes and sizes, similar to various animals, flowers and fruits. A flashlight can be anything: colored or transparent, classic or bizarre, plain or with inscriptions. The tradition of painting the lanterns by hand makes them true works of art. The first lanterns were made from rice paper and a small wax candle – it was inexpensive and made entertainment accessible to all people. Symbolic hieroglyphs with riddles and wishes were written on the outside. By the way, the tradition of guessing riddles on lanterns has remained: the owner of the lantern writes a riddle on it, and glues a piece of paper with a guess to the bottom. The person who answers correctly receives a small gift or treat. Today, lanterns are made not only from rice paper, but also from unusual materials, such as leather and fur. Lanterns can play music or move, glow from batteries.

Since the 11th century, the holiday has become ubiquitous in China and has the status of a state holiday. On this day, it is customary to hold colorful shows and theatrical performances, organize folk festivals and have fun.

There is a legend that the souls of dead ancestors descend to earth on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones and relatives. And on the Lantern Festival, they come back, and millions of lanterns light their way home… Citizens take to the streets, watch the performances of street musicians, chat and dance, dressing up in carnival costumes. The most popular is the fiery dragon costume: its dance symbolizes success and prosperity.

Yuanxiaojie is a family holiday that becomes an occasion to meet and gathers all relatives at a large table. Traditionally, on this day, great attention is paid to treats. The main dish of the Lantern Festival is yuanxiao, which translates as “meeting after parting.” Yuanxiao are glutinous rice balls that symbolize the happiness of a close-knit family. The delicacy is prepared with different fillings: vegetables, fish, meat, sugar, nuts, sesame seeds, dates and even roses. Yuyanxiao has been cooked for more than a millennium, they come in a dozen different types, differing mainly in the composition of the filling. Yuanxiao is a symbolic wish for the family to always be together and live happily ever after.

The celebration ends with fireworks, firecrackers and crackers. When the lanterns fly into the sky, the Chinese look at them, play drums and sing folk songs.

Mikhail Kovalyov.

Author’s photo