HLnovel Chapter 198: Mid-Autumn Festival (2)
Chapter 198: Mid-Autumn Festival (2)
To this day, every Mid-Autumn Festival, families gather in the courtyard or on the balcony to admire the bright moon hanging high in the sky. This remains an indispensable traditional activity. Bathed in the silver moonlight, people share joy and warmth, their hearts filled with longing and blessings for a better life.
In that ancient and mysterious era, people in Zhejiang, besides gazing at the bright moon and expressing their feelings during the Mid-Autumn Festival, also enjoyed a fascinating grand activity: watching the tide. This unique custom has a long history and can be traced back to the distant past.
As early as the Han Dynasty, the talented writer Mei Cheng gave a detailed and vivid description of watching the tide in his famous poem "Qi Fa". In his writing, the surging tide roared like a thousand horses galloping, its majestic momentum and spectacular scene were breathtaking.
Over time, after the Han Dynasty, the custom of watching the tides during the Mid-Autumn Festival grew increasingly popular. By the Ming Dynasty, works such as Zhu Tinghuan's "Supplement to Wulin Jiushi" and Wu Zimu's "Dream of the Red Chamber" from the Song Dynasty contained detailed accounts of tide-watching. These accounts transport us back to that bustling scene: every Mid-Autumn Festival, the riverside would be packed with people, young and old, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the mighty waves with excitement. When the roaring tide arrived as expected, the crowd erupted in gasps and cheers, awestruck by the power of nature. Some composed poems and lyrics to capture the magnificent spectacle, while others captured the unforgettable moment with their paintings. The brave surfers, meanwhile, skillfully navigated the waves in their small boats, demonstrating fearless courage and exceptional skill, earning cheers from the spectators on shore.
Watching the tide during the Mid-Autumn Festival is more than just a visual feast; it's also a cultural legacy, embodying the ancients' reverence and admiration for the power of nature. It has become a shining pearl in the traditional culture of the Chinese nation. Even after millennia of change, this custom persists in Zhejiang, attracting generations of people to experience its breathtaking charm.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moonlight shines down like water on the earth, and the act of lighting lanterns is like stars falling to earth, adding a touch of brilliance and liveliness to the bright moonlight. Since ancient times, the custom of lighting lanterns to enhance the moonlight has been passed down through the ages.
In the vast Huguang region, people still maintain the unique custom of meticulously stacking towers with tiles and lighting bright lanterns on top. Those towers, built of tiles, are like mysterious beacons, guiding people's yearning for reunion and happiness.
Meanwhile, in the Jiangnan water towns, crafting lantern boats has become a unique local custom. The delicate lantern boats drift across the shimmering waters, seemingly carrying people's thoughts and blessings as they sail toward distant lands.
As time went by, in modern times, the custom of lighting lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival became more and more prosperous. According to the article "Idle Feelings and Talks about Seasonal Affairs" written by Zhou Yunjin and He Xiangfei, "In Guangdong, the scene of lighting lanterns is the most spectacular. Every household began to busy themselves with weaving lantern frames with bamboo strips more than ten days before the festival. These lanterns are of different shapes. Some are made into the shape of fruits, which are round and cute; some are transformed into the images of birds and beasts, which are lifelike; and some imitate the postures of fish and insects, which are smart and playful. Not only that, words such as "Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival" are painted on the surface of the lanterns, and they are painted with colorful colors, which is pleasing to the eye. When the night of Mid-Autumn Festival comes, people light candles and put them inside the lanterns, and then tie them to long bamboo poles with ropes. Then, the bamboo poles are erected high, either standing on the eaves of their own homes or placed in the center of spacious terraces. More creative people will use many small lanterns to cleverly Lanterns are skillfully arranged into various characters or other fantastical shapes, then hung high in homes. This practice is known among the people as "tree-mounted Mid-Autumn Festival" or "erecting Mid-Autumn Festival." The lanterns hung by wealthy families can reach heights of several meters, like towering beacons. When night falls, families gather beneath the lanterns, enjoying drinks and family time. For ordinary people, even simply erecting a flagpole and hanging two lanterns can bring their own personal joy and satisfaction. At this moment, the entire city is ablaze with lights, each aglow with the other, creating a dreamlike world of glass. This demonstrates that the custom of lighting Mid-Autumn lanterns, which has persisted from ancient times to the present day, remains enduring, and its scale is perhaps second only to the vibrant Lantern Festival.
猜谜
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon is full, the city's streets, alleys, parks, and other public spaces are adorned with countless colorful lanterns of various shapes. Each lantern is meticulously inscribed with a witty and fascinating riddle, attracting countless citizens.
The crowd bustled with activity, laughter echoing endlessly. Groups of two or three gathered under the lanterns, whispering about the answers, while others sat alone, frowning in deep thought. Young people were particularly enthusiastic about this activity, full of energy and vitality, their quick minds showcasing their ingenuity as they solved the puzzles. This activity not only became a source of entertainment for young people but also, thanks to its romantic atmosphere, gave rise to many love stories.
On this beautiful evening, young men and women use lantern riddles as an opportunity to get to know each other and connect. Perhaps a casual glance, a gentle question, or a hint can ignite the spark of love. These moments of rapport bring two strangers closer, ultimately composing touching love stories. For this reason, Mid-Autumn Festival lantern riddles have evolved into a unique way for men and women to connect, carrying people's yearning and expectation for beautiful love.
eat mooncakes
Throughout China, moon-watching and mooncake-eating are integral traditions throughout the country. As the saying goes, "On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the moon is full and full, and the Mid-Autumn mooncakes are fragrant and sweet."
Mooncakes have a history that dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty. The renowned writer Wu Zimu mentioned mooncakes in his book "Dreams of the Southern Song Dynasty," but at that time, they were simply a common snack. Over time, people gradually ingeniously integrated moon-viewing with mooncake tasting.
As night falls and the moon hangs high in the sky, families gather in the courtyard, setting a table rich with fruits and pastries, and of course, mooncakes, a symbol of reunion. Gazing at the moon, as bright as a silver plate, they savor the sweet and delicious mooncakes while sharing the little moments of life. At this time, mooncakes become more than just a delicacy; they become a bond of family affection, uniting families and sharing a deep sense of warmth and happiness.
Mooncakes also play a crucial role in fostering friendships. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, friends and family often exchange mooncakes as a token of care and affection. This small gift conveys deep feelings and strengthens close relationships.
From a simple pastry in ancient times, through the ages, how did mooncakes gradually develop into a popular delicacy with a dazzling array of flavors? This journey embodies the wisdom and hard work of countless predecessors.
Then, with even greater passion, I recounted the detailed steps and unique methods of mooncake making. First, I discussed the meticulous selection of high-quality ingredients, from the flour to the precise selection of oil, sugar, and other ingredients. Then, there's the crucial step of preparing the fillings. The sweet red bean paste needs to be smooth and tender, while the savory egg yolk and lotus seed paste needs to be fragrant and fragrant. Each filling has its own unique characteristics. Finally, the highly anticipated baking stage comes, where mastering the heat and timing are crucial factors in determining the final taste of the mooncake.
The children sat around, listening intently to my explanation, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. Sometimes they looked surprised by the novelty of the story, and sometimes burst into laughter at my vivid descriptions. As the story progressed, the children's interest grew, and they exclaimed in amazement, as if they could already imagine making their own delicious mooncakes. They were all eager to try it out, eager to get their hands on it.