On February 12th, Xiaba Village in Hedong Town, Wuhua County, Meizhou City, welcomed its annual Lantern Festival celebration. This spectacular event which has persisted for over 500 years as a provincial intangible cultural heritage, once again shone brightly on the Lantern Festival night of the Year of the Snake.

The origins of the Xiaba Lantern Festival celebration are rooted in a poignant story. During the Ming Dynasty's Chenghua period, Zhou Xuan, the seventh ancestor of the Zhou family, was devoted to the well-being of the villagers. He led them in filling pits, constructing terraces, and diverting water from the mountains. To fund these endeavors, he taught the villagers the art of making colorful lanterns. To honor Zhuo's contributions and to pray for a prosperous community, the tradition of celebrating the Lantern Festival was born. In the Hakka dialect, the word for "lantern" sounds the same as the word for "prosperity," making the Lantern Festival a celebration of fortune and hope.

Around 7:30 PM, as night fell and the lights illuminated the sky, the Lantern Festival celebration officially began. The sound of gongs and drums filled the air as floats and lanterns lit up the night sky in a display of vibrant colors, transforming the streets into a dreamlike spectacle. The villagers, dressed in matching red uniforms, carried flower lanterns that competed for attention. Among them, the 15-meter-long snake lantern was particularly captivating, with its lifelike movements suggesting it might soar into the sky, beautifully contrasting with the other lanterns. The fish lantern swayed playfully as if frolicking in the water. The rooster lantern stood proudly, which showcased a vivid spirit and reflected the villagers' limitless creativity, attracting onlookers to pause and admire.

The parade, propelled by the exhilarating beats of the drums, made its way through the village, creating an electric atmosphere. Households along the route raised their phones to capture the joyful moments of reunion during the Lantern Festival. The sounds and lights seemed to release all the happiness into the night sky. Children danced excitedly alongside the procession, while adults wore radiant smiles, all immersed in the rich festive spirit.

Source:Lingnan On the Cloud

梅州五华下坝迎灯万人空巷

2月12日，梅州市五华县河东镇下坝村迎来一年一度的迎灯盛会，这项跨越500多年岁月长河的省级非遗项目——下坝迎灯，在蛇年元宵夜再次绽放出夺目光芒。

下坝迎灯的背后，藏着一个动人的故事。明朝成化年间，周姓七世祖周瑄公心系百姓，带领村民填坑筑陂、凿山引水。为筹集资金，他还将制作彩灯的手艺传授给村民。为了铭记周仙的功德，也为了祈求人丁兴旺，当地兴起了迎灯闹元宵的传统。在客家话里，“灯”与“丁”同音，迎灯，便是迎福、迎希望。

晚上7时30分许，夜幕降临，华灯初上，迎灯活动正式开场！瞬间，锣鼓声震耳欲聋，花车、花灯在夜空中绽放出五彩斑斓的光芒，将整条街道装点得如梦如幻。迎灯村民们身着统一红色制服，手中的花灯更是争奇斗艳。尤其是首先出场的15米的蛇灯尤为吸睛，栩栩如生，灵动的身姿仿佛要腾飞而起，与其他花灯相互映衬。鲤鱼灯摇头摆尾，好似在水中欢快嬉戏；公鸡灯威风凛凛，个个活灵活现，每一盏都凝聚着村民们的无限巧思，让人忍不住驻足欣赏。

迎灯巡游队伍在激昂的锣鼓声中缓缓前行，一路热闹非凡。沿途，家家户户都在旁举起手机记录元宵团圆美好的一刻，那声响、那灯光，仿佛要把所有的美好都在这一刻释放。人群中，孩子们兴奋地跟着，大人们脸上洋溢着幸福的笑容，大家都沉浸在这浓浓的节日氛围中。

文、图 | 赖嘉华 周扬
翻译 | 洪婷
英文审校| 赵凡