元宵节，每年农历正月十五，是中国传统节日之一，标志着新年庆祝活动的结束。而今年的元宵节在明天（2月15日）。
The Lantern Festival (or Yuanxiao Jie in Chinese) is a traditional Chinese festival with great significance, which is on the 15th of the first lunar month, marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. This year, the date is observed on February 15.
在佛山，如何庆祝元宵节？快一起来了解下吧!
How to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Foshan? We have prepared a folk custom guide for you. Come and see!
吃汤圆 Taste Rice Dumpligs (Tangyuan)
佛山人在元宵节大多有煮汤圆的习惯，吃“汤圆”成为传统习俗。
Most Foshan people love to enjoy some yummy dumplings on Lantern Festival. Eating “Tangyuan” has ingrained as an iconic custom of Chinese traditional culture.
汉语中，“汤圆”的“团圆”发音相似，汤圆圆圆的外形也意味着家庭团圆、幸福美满。
Tangyuan has a similar pronunciation with “tuanyuan (reunion)” in Chinese. With the round shape of dumplings, it symbolizes wholeness and happiness.
闹花灯 Light Up Lanterns
农历正月十五，按照民间的传统，在这皓月高悬的夜晚，人们要点起彩灯万盏，以示庆贺。因此，这一节日又称灯节。
Based on local traditions, thousands of colorful lanterns will be lighted up on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month for celebration, which is why it is given the name Lantern Festival.
花灯琳琅满目，飞鸟、鲤鱼、龙腾等各式各样的图样，为节日增添了欢乐的气氛。
The lanterns depict various characters, like flying birds, leaping fishes, and shining fireworks, showing an atmosphere of joy.
佛山文史专家罗一星表示，在农业社会，男士出外打拼，女士二门不迈，也只有元宵佳节才允许男女老少去观灯。平时足不涉户的闺阁女子，往往乘此机会与意中人谈情相会，等同于现代的情人节。
Luo Yixing, a Foshan historian, added that in Agricultural Society men would be away from home to make a living while women would stay home to take care of the family. Only on Lantern Festival were all people allowed to watch the lanterns. Women, on this very day, took the opportunity to find their “Mr. Right”, which in some ways seems like today’s Valentines Day.
(Photo by Nanfang Daily)
猜灯谜 Solve Lantern Riddles
在佛山过元宵节，必须要猜个灯谜才叫地道！
A Lantern Festival experience in Foshan would not be complete without a game - solving lantern riddles.
灯笼的主人会把谜语写在一张纸上，并把纸提前贴在灯笼上。如果游客想出了谜语的答案，便可以把纸条拿出来，去灯笼的主人那里核对答案，答对有奖哦！
Lantern owners will write riddles on pieces of paper and post them on the lanterns in advance. If visitors can answer the riddles, they can just pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answers. If they are right, they will get a little gift.
舞醒狮 Watch Lion Dance Performance
(Photo by OCT Harbor Plus)
舞狮子是佛山优秀的民间艺术，每逢元宵佳节或集会庆典，市民都以狮舞前来助兴。
Lion dance is well-known as an excellent folk art in Foshan. Whenever here comes the Lantern Festival or a bustling celebration, lion dancing teams will help to spice up the scenes.
这一习俗起源于三国时期，南北朝时开始流行，至今已有一千多年的历史。
The custom dates all the way back to the Three Kingdoms period and became popular in the Southern and Northern Dynasties with a history of more than a thousand years.
相传舞狮子可以赶走人世间的霉运，希望在新的一年，家家户户都能平安幸福。
According to legend, the lion dance has the function of getting rid of bad luck and wishing for a safe and happy new year.
行通济 Walk Through Tongji Bridge
Pic from Previous years
行通济这一传统民俗已延续400多年，是佛山一年一度盛大的文化活动，在坊间更是流传着“行通济，冇弊翳”的说法。
Walking through Tongji Bridge is an annual cultural event in Foshan that has a history of over 400 years. The local believes that crossing the Tongji Bridge helps you get rid of all back luck!
今年，为了落实常态化的疫情防控措施，行通济活动将在线上举行。IP人物“通仔”及众多趣味互动游戏将于元宵节（2月15日）零时正式上线，让市民足不出户也能欢乐行通济。
This year, for the regular epidemic prevention and control, the event will be held online, the IP character “通仔” and well-designed games will be launched at midnight on Feb 15, making it possible for Foshan people to keep up to this tradition while avoiding social gathering.
不仅如此，线上行通济过程中，顺利通关接福小游戏，还可以抽取专属新年祝福语，领取福气利是！
What’s more, while walking through Tongji Bridge online, if you successfully pass through the game, you can also draw exclusive New Year wishes and receive lishi (red envelope)!
扫描二维码参与活动
Scan the QR code to join
祝大家元宵节快乐！
Wish everyone a Happy Lantern Festival!