Fugu is a place where diverse cultures gather and blend. The traditional Yellow River culture and grassland culture gather here.
Special customs and habits of celebrating the Lantern Festival in Fugu:
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, so it is named because the customary food on this day is Yuanxiao. Yuanxiao is a round food made of glutinous rice flour filled with sugar filling. The one rolled in flour is called Yuanxiao, and the one wrapped in flour is called "Tangyuan", which means reunion and harmony. The main activity of this day is to watch lanterns, so it is also called the "Festival of Lights". Taoism calls the fifteenth day of the first lunar month as the Shangyuan period, the fifteenth day of the seventh month as the Zhongyuan period, and the fifteenth day of the October lunar month as the Xiayuan period. Together they are called "Three Yuan", which belong to the birthdays of the three officials of heaven, earth and water.
There are very early records of lighting lanterns in Shangyuan. As far back as the Han Dynasty, lanterns were lit on this night to commemorate the god Taiyi (Pole Star Lord). According to records, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty introduced the custom of "appreciating lanterns in the twelfth lunar month" from the Western Regions. The dark day of the twelfth lunar month in the Western Regions was called the Great Divine Change, and lanterns were burned on that day to represent the Buddha. After this custom was introduced to China, it gradually developed into lantern viewing. In the Tang Dynasty, the time for lantern viewing was officially set as the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. According to historical records, on the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the second year of Ruizong Jingyun (711), a 20-foot-high lantern wheel was made outside Anfu Gate and decorated with brocade. Decoration, hang 50,000 lanterns, like a huge flower tree. Thousands of palace maids and young ladies from Chang'an sang and danced under the lamps. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Lantern Festival lantern viewing became more popular. It is stipulated that driving is prohibited for three nights before and after the Lantern Festival, and the market is opened for lantern viewing. The Song Dynasty, like the Tang Dynasty, issued an edict to establish Lantern Festival Lantern Festival as a system. Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty established Nanjing as his capital. In order to attract wealthy businessmen from all over the world, he lit up lanterns for ten days. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty, it was still stipulated that on the three nights of the Lantern Festival, the market would be open to enjoy lanterns. In modern times, although the dates for lantern viewing vary across the country, the custom of lantern viewing has been fixed. Since the Republic of China, the Lantern Festival has generally lasted for three days. The fourteenth day of the first lunar month is for "testing the lanterns", the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is for "making lanterns", and the sixteenth day of the first lunar month is for "finishing the lanterns".
During the Lantern Festival, they entertain their daughter and son-in-law, which is called "eating fifteen". They also send lamps and oil, which is called "adding oil".
Sending and lighting up lanterns
Starting from the fifth day of the first lunar month, the activity of sending lanterns begins. The main reason is that the uncle sends lanterns to the nephew. As the saying goes: "The nephew sends lanterns - it's the same as usual" (a homophonic pronunciation for uncle). There are also godfathers who send lights to their godchildren. There are many styles of lanterns, including palace lanterns, Luqi lanterns (round lanterns), lotus lanterns, basin lanterns, sheep lanterns, fish lanterns, etc., as well as various flower and bird lanterns. Generally, a pair of lanterns, 10 candles, and 10 twists are given for 12 consecutive years. After the children receive the lantern, they turn on (pick up) the lantern and play in groups every night until the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth of the first lunar month. These three days of "playing with lanterns" are called "making lanterns". "Play", "make" and "end" have their own meanings. "Play" means having fun, especially on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, firecrackers are set off to worship gods. Ancestors, after dinner, hang a lamp at the door, light candles in every corner of the house and courtyard, and burn paper and send lamps to the ancestors’ graves. Then go out to watch the fun (fireworks, lions, dragon lanterns, lantern riddles, etc.). The characteristic of the Lantern Festival is the grand display of lanterns, which is very special. The display must be on a high level. Whoever has the best lanterns and who has high skill in playing with the lanterns will be shining! It will also add to the face of the baby’s uncle. Brilliance! On the night of the 16th day of the first lunar month, this is the last night of the annual Lantern Festival, so it is called "End of Lanterns". This means that this year's Lantern Festival is over, so you should play with lanterns as much as you want, use lanterns to make lanterns, break the lanterns and burn them, only then will you be happy. Because you can't put down old lanterns next year. If you put up old lanterns, your uncle will get pink eye. This is a folk taboo, so finishing up the lanterns means "finishing the lanterns".
Chasing lanterns and hiding from lanterns
In the first year after a new daughter-in-law’s marriage, her parents’ family will hold a grand lantern-sending event to the bride’s family, commonly known as “chasing lanterns”. The grand scale of chasing lanterns and the quality of the lanterns depend on their wealth. Wealthy people would give a pair of glass palace lanterns, some with a nanmu frame and cement polishing, some with pearls and gems, and some ordinary ones. In addition to a pair of main lanterns, a small lantern is also brought, commonly known as the "leading lantern", which is meant to guide the newlyweds to have a baby soon. After the husband's family receives the chasing lantern, the bride will go with her parents' family to her parents' house to "hide the lantern" (usually on the 14th day of the first lunar month and return on the 16th day).
On the day of Chasing the Lantern, the groom’s family will hold a banquet to entertain the relatives. Generally, we have two meals. Breakfast is "four courses" (four dishes with wine) and steamed noodles. Lunch banquets are more particular. Common ones include "Chong Ba Pie" (eight dishes for drinking and eight dishes for meals), "Twelve Pieces" (four dishes for drinking and eight dishes for meals), "Twenty Four" "Taiwan" (drinking, dining, 24 dishes) and so on.
Light Show
With the development of the times, Lantern Festival lantern viewing activities have become more prosperous and larger in scale. Along with the lantern show, there are also activities such as guessing lantern riddles and setting off fireworks. The custom of guessing lantern riddles has existed since ancient times. The ancients called this activity "shooting the tiger". Nowadays, the activities of guessing lantern riddles are unprecedentedly grand. Hundreds of people participate in this activity and receive prizes on the spot after guessing the lantern riddles.
The custom of setting off fireworks has been around since ancient times. China was the first to invent gunpowder. With gunpowder, the fireworks business developed. The formal formation of fireworks began in the Tang Dynasty and became very popular in the Song Dynasty. After the development of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, the content of fireworks has been renovated and has reached a level of refinement and perfection. The fireworks in Pucheng County, Shaanxi Province are famous both at home and abroad. Especially the fireworks in Pucheng Xingzhen are the most famous.
Eat Yuanxiao
Eat Yuanxiao on the Lantern Festival. This is a unique flavor food of the festival. It is usually eaten on the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month. Yuanxiao is made of glutinous rice flour, filled with sugar filling (sesame, peanut, jujube paste, etc.), and made into a round shape; most of them use filling as the center and roll rice flour on the outside to form a round shape. The front is called glutinous rice balls, and the back is called Yuanxiao. Because the shape is round, it symbolizes family reunion. It tastes sweet and means your life will be happy and sweet. On this day, the gift given by the married daughter to her parents' family is the Lantern Festival, and the Lantern Festival is also used by the parents' family to entertain guests.
Lighting up sky lanterns and hanging grave lanterns
"Lending sky lanterns" is a folk festival entertainment custom. Every year during the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, in addition to making lanterns, there is also a custom of "letting off sky lanterns". This custom has a long history, and according to historical records, this practice was already in place in the Tang Dynasty. Lighting up sky lanterns is to add to the atmosphere of the lantern festival and bring the lantern viewing activities to a new climax.
"Hanging grave lanterns" is a custom of offering sacrifices every year, which is spread in Fufeng, Shaanxi. Every year on the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month, filial sons and grandsons in every household hang a red lantern on their ancestral graves. In front of hanging lamps, paper and incense are burned, an incense table is set up, and tributes are offered. Family members kneel down and pay homage to comfort the spirits of their ancestors in heaven.
Zhuan Jiuqu
"Zhuan Jiuqu", also known as "Jiuqu Hui" and "Lantern Tour Club", is popular in Yan'an, Yulin and other areas. It is held around the 15th day of the first lunar month every year. In the Wubao area, the meeting is held on the 14th, 15th and 16th day of the first lunar month. In ancient times, "Zhuan Jiuqu" was a religious activity to worship Laozi, and it had many superstitions. Nowadays, people believe in science and do not believe in gods. They only regard "Zhuan Jiuqu" as an entertainment and fitness activity. The layout of the "Zhuan Jiuqu" formation is based on the formation of the legendary Jiang Ziya's "Yellow River Formation". Nine gates in the east, south, west, north and middle are set up in the square, and the nine gates are connected together. 360 sorghum stalks are planted equidistantly into a square pattern, called a "stigma". The stigmas were then connected with sorghum stalks, and 367 lamps were placed. There are seven lamps placed on the middle pillar, which are called "seven-star lamps". Looking at the overall situation, Jiuqu is like a large city outline. There are nine twists and turns, no repeating path. There are nine small city walls within this big city wall, and the doorways and directions of the small city walls are also different. You can only move forward in the order of the wall when turning nine bends. You are only allowed to move forward, not backward, and you are not allowed to beat around the bush.