Yuan-Xiao Festival

The Yuan-Xiao Festival celebration was started more than 2000 years ago. When word yuan (元) used for month, it means the first month (元月). Xiao (宵) means the night. Therefore, the holiday is at the first full moon night in the first lunar calendar month.

Like most of the Chinese holiday, there always a special food associated with the holiday. Yuanxiao is the food for Yuan-Xiao festival. Yuanxiao is steamed sweet rice flour ball with sweet feelings. On the holiday night, the whole family gets together, people light lanterns, set off the firecrackers, eat yuanxiao, go out to see the lanterns, and playing lantern-riddles. In Song dynasty, the celebration was 3 days long and 10 days in Ming dynasty. It is a very happy traditional holiday in China.

There is a special cultural meaning that the yuanxiao is in round shape as the moon cake. Round completes since the ends meet. When the yin and yan are together and form the Tai-Jin circle, or the round, that is when they are complete and in harmony. Importantly, round shape is easier to be contained and easier to contain other shapes.

At 2005 Ilebana International Flower Show, I made an arrangement using a set of 5 balls, now I remembered it and it fits the mood.

I hope you like the picture. I wish your life just like the yuanxiao, complete and sweet.

Happy Monday and Happy Yuan-Xiao Festival.

In Friendship through Flowers,
yirou.
(3-4-2007)

本文有中文版