Abstract : This paper deeply explores the Lantern Festival, a traditional Chinese festival, and comprehensively expounds its origin, development process, diverse customs, and the cultural connotations it contains. Through combing the historical evolution of the Lantern Festival, this paper analyzes its characteristics and significance in different historical periods. At the same time, it studies the challenges and opportunities faced by the inheritance of the Lantern Festival culture in modern society, and explores how to better inherit and promote the Lantern Festival culture in the context of the new era, so as to make it radiate new vitality in contemporary society. Keywords : The Lantern Festival; Traditional Festival; Cultural Connotations; Modern Inheritance I. Introduction The Lantern Festival is one of the important traditional festivals in China and holds a unique and significant position in the cultural inheritance of the Chinese nation. It carries rich historical memories, folk customs, and national emotions. After thousands of years of development and evolution, it remains an important moment for people to celebrate reunion and pray for happiness. In-depth research on the cultural connotations and modern inheritance of the Lantern Festival not only helps us better understand the traditional culture of the Chinese nation but also contributes to the promotion and development of excellent traditional culture in contemporary society, enhancing national cohesion and cultural confidence. II. The Origin and Development of the Lantern Festival (I) Origin Legends There are various legends about the origin of the Lantern Festival. One of the more widely spread ones is related to Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty. It is said that after Empress Lü's death, the Lü clan caused chaos. After Zhou Bo, Chen Ping, and others quelled the chaos, they supported Liu Heng, Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, to ascend the throne. In memory of this event, Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty designated the 15th day of the first lunar month, when the chaos of the Lü clan was suppressed, as a day of joy for the people and decorated the city with lanterns and colored streamers to celebrate. Another saying is related to Taoism's "Three Yuan Theory". The 15th day of the first lunar month is the Shangyuan Festival, when the Heavenly Official bestows blessings, and people decorate with lanterns and colored streamers to offer sacrifices to the Heavenly Official. (II) Development Process The Lantern Festival initially took shape in the Han Dynasty, mainly as a sacrificial activity for the imperial court and the nobility at that time. In the Tang Dynasty, the Lantern Festival witnessed great development and became a nationwide carnival festival. During the Lantern Festival in Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty, the city was ablaze with lights, and various wonderful performances, such as acrobatics and folk dances, were staged. In the Song Dynasty, the scale of the Lantern Festival was further expanded, the lantern market became more prosperous, and new customs such as guessing lantern riddles emerged. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the customs of the Lantern Festival became even more diverse, and performance activities such as dragon dancing, lion dancing, and stilt walking were widely spread among the people. III. The Customs of the Lantern Festival and Their Cultural Connotations (I) Appreciating Lanterns Appreciating lanterns is one of the most representative customs of the Lantern Festival. Lanterns come in various shapes, including animal shapes, human shapes, and flower shapes. In ancient times, lanterns were not only a form of decoration but also carried people's yearning for a better life. Lanterns of different shapes and colors have different meanings. For example, red lanterns symbolize good luck and festivity, and lotus lanterns imply purity and beauty. The custom of appreciating lanterns reflects people's pursuit of light and hope and also shows the Chinese nation's yearning for and love of a better life. (II) Eating Yuanxiao Yuanxiao, also known as tangyuan, is a traditional food for the Lantern Festival. Yuanxiao is made of glutinous rice flour and has a variety of fillings, both sweet and savory. The custom of eating yuanxiao symbolizes reunion and happiness, as well as family harmony. The round shape of yuanxiao also implies "perfection and fulfillment", reflecting the Chinese nation's emphasis on family reunion and a happy life. (III) Guessing Lantern Riddles Guessing lantern riddles is an intellectual game activity during the Lantern Festival. Lantern riddles are usually written on strips of paper and pasted on colorful lanterns for people to guess. The content of lantern riddles is extensive, covering many fields such as astronomy, geography, history, and literature. Guessing lantern riddles can not only increase people's knowledge but also add fun to the festival. It reflects the intelligence and wisdom of the Chinese nation and their pursuit of knowledge, and at the same time, it promotes communication and interaction among people. (IV) Dragon and Lion Dances Dragon and lion dances are common folk performance activities during the Lantern Festival. The dragon is a symbol of the Chinese nation, and dragon dancing implies dispelling evil spirits and disasters and praying for a good harvest. The lion is regarded as an auspicious animal, and lion dancing symbolizes good luck and peace, as well as driving away evil spirits and protecting the house. The performances of dragon and lion dances are full of vitality and passion, demonstrating the courage and strength of the Chinese nation and expressing people's yearning for and blessings of a better life. IV. The Inheritance and Development of the Lantern Festival in Modern Society (I) Current Inheritance Situation In modern society, the Lantern Festival remains an important festival and is widely concerned and loved by people. All localities have held a variety of colorful Lantern Festival activities, such as lantern exhibitions, temple fairs, and folk performances, attracting a large number of tourists and citizens to participate. However, with the development of society and the change of people's lifestyles, some traditional customs of the Lantern Festival are facing the dilemma of inheritance. For example, some traditional handicraft skills of making lanterns are gradually being lost, and the participation rate in activities such as guessing lantern riddles has decreased. (II) Challenges Faced Impact of Cultural Diversity: With the development of globalization, Western culture and modern culture have had a certain impact on traditional Chinese culture. Some young people pay more attention to Western festivals and have insufficient understanding of the cultural connotations of traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival. Change of Lifestyle: The modern life rhythm has accelerated, and people's lifestyles have changed greatly. Some traditional customs of the Lantern Festival, such as family reunions and making yuanxiao by hand, have gradually been simplified or abandoned due to time and energy constraints. Lack of Inheritance Talents: Some traditional customs of the Lantern Festival, such as making lanterns by hand and dragon and lion dancing, require professional skills and experience. However, currently, there is a shortage of inheritance talents for these traditional skills, putting some customs at risk of being lost. (III) Development Opportunities Rise of Cultural Tourism: With the increasing demand for cultural tourism, the Lantern Festival, as a festival with rich cultural connotations, provides a good opportunity for the development of cultural tourism. All localities can attract tourists and promote the development of cultural tourism by holding Lantern Festival lantern exhibitions, folk performances, and other activities. Dissemination through New Media: The development of new media has provided a new platform for the dissemination of Lantern Festival culture. Through channels such as the Internet and social media, people can more conveniently understand the cultural connotations and customs of the Lantern Festival. At the same time, they can also share their festival experiences, enhancing the interactivity and participation of the festival. Innovation and Integration: In modern society, the customs of the Lantern Festival can be developed through innovation and integration. For example, combining traditional lantern-making with modern technology to create more magnificent and colorful lanterns; combining activities such as guessing lantern riddles with online platforms to increase the fun and participation of the activities. V. Conclusion As an important representative of traditional Chinese festivals, the Lantern Festival carries rich cultural connotations and national emotions. In modern society, the inheritance and development of the Lantern Festival face challenges, but also new opportunities. We should attach importance to the inheritance and development of Lantern Festival culture, and through innovation and integration, let the Lantern Festival radiate new vitality in contemporary society. At the same time, we should also strengthen the publicity and education of the cultural connotations of the Lantern Festival, so that more people can understand and love this traditional festival, enhancing national cohesion and cultural confidence. Only in this way can we better inherit and promote the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation and let the ancient Lantern Festival shine more brightly in the new era.
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