[Explanation] When it comes to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, one will naturally think of eating glutinous rice balls, carrying lantern flowers, and guessing lantern riddles... There is also a very important Lantern Festival custom in Suzhou, Anhui, which is "steaming noodles".
Many ordinary people will place steamed noodle lamps in various places in their homes on the night of the Lantern Festival, implying a bright and peaceful year ahead.
[Concurrent] Face lamp craftsman Zhou Li
Our face lamp has a long history in Suzhou. It has been made every year since our parents, but it is still very early according to my grandparents, and it has a history of hundreds of years.
[Explanation] According to Zhou Li, noodle lamp is a kind of Lantern Festival pasta popular in the border areas of Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Henan and Hebei.
In the Suzhou area, people usually pinch 12 face lamps to correspond to the 12 months of the year. When there is a leap month, they will pinch one more to pray for the new year.
[Concurrent] Face lamp craftsman Zhou Li
The 12 lights represent the 12 months of each year, which is to pray for good weather every year, pray for a good harvest next year, and yearn for a beautiful and happy life.
[Explanation] In addition to face lanterns and the twelve zodiac signs, local people still have the custom of pinching "dragon lanterns", but "dragon lanterns" need to wait until "February 2 when the dragon raises its head" before eating, because "February 2" is a Chinese folk tradition Festivals, also known as Spring Plowing Festival, Farming Festival, etc., eating dragon lanterns on this day also reflects the common people's gratitude for the gifts of nature.
[Concurrent] Face lamp craftsman Zhou Ying
This dragon lantern has "Qianlong" and "Canglong". "Dragon" is placed on the money box, and it was placed on the box before. This means that next year's wealth will be abundant, and our lives will be prosperous.
[Explanation] Noodle lamps contain too many folk customs of Suzhou people. In recent years, with the improvement of people's living standards and the continuous pursuit of a better life, noodle lamps have become more and more colorful.
[Concurrent] Face lamp craftsman Zhou Yan
It was made by the older generation in the past, because of the limited living conditions, it was relatively hard and the taste was not very good. Now we have processed and improved it, added some eggs and other things, and the taste will be (loose) ) soft and firm.
[Explanation] In the kitchen, some of the three sisters of the Zhou family knead noodles, some make shapes, and some knead dough lamps... each perform their duties and cooperate with each other.
I saw that Zhou Yan kneaded the dough into an oval shape, and made the red, white, black, and blue dough into scarves, eyes, and mouth in turn. A brightly colored and naive "lion awakening rabbit" was ready.
In addition to the traditional face lamps, they will also add some new elements, such as "plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum".
[Concurrent] Face lamp craftsman Zhou Yan
This face lamp is a traditional culture in our local area. Our three sisters don't want it to be lost, but want it to continue to be passed on.
Next step I thought, pass it on to the next generation and some friends who love and love pasta.
Liu Honghe reports from Suzhou, Anhui
Responsible editor: [Bian Liqun]