Friends from overseas feel the charm of the traditional Lantern Festival and celebrate the Chinese Year

济南国际传播中心2023-02-25 21:56

　　“年三十的烟火，正月十五的灯”热闹的春节过后，喜气的元宵紧接而来。元宵，是春节的尾声，亦是仲春的开始。有趣、好玩、温暖、“尔立”，是济南人对于元宵节的印象。春节里最后一个盛大的节日，济南“热闹非凡”，灯会、庙会、花展…这些中国传统的元宵节习俗陪伴着济南人长大，也带着大洋彼岸的“外籍友人”们重新定义团圆的味道。

　　"The festive atmosphere on the 30th day of the Lunar New Year is just in line with the lights on the 15th day of the first month." After the busy Spring Festival, the happy Lantern Festival came immediately. Yuanxiao is the end of the Spring Festival and the beginning of the Mid Spring Festival. Engaging, funny, warm, and "lively" are the impression of Jinan people on the Yuanxiao. As the last grand festival in the Spring Festival, Jinan is immersed in a festive atmosphere. These traditional Chinese Lantern Festival customs, such as the lantern festival, temple fair, and flower show, accompany the people of Jinan to grow up and also bring the taste of "foreign friends" on the other side of the ocean to redefine reunion.

　　临近正月十五元宵节，正所谓入乡随俗，在济的外国友人们也与我们一同沾着这些专属节日的“团圆气”。做花灯、猜灯谜、品元宵……2月3日，“国际友人闹元宵”之国际青年共度“团圆节”活动在社区文化角欢乐开幕。国际青年们共同感受传统元宵节习俗、学习中国传统文化，共同解锁“团圆味道”。来自摩洛哥、肯尼亚、俄罗斯等国家的外国友人、留学生与社区居民一同体验制作花灯、猜灯谜、品尝元宵等传统民俗活动，大家欢聚一堂，共度佳节。

　　As we approach the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, as the saying goes when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Foreign friends in the country also share the "reunion atmosphere" of these exclusive festivals. Making lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, tasting Yuanxiao.

　　On February 3, the international youth sharing "Reunion Day" activity of "International Friends Making Yuanxiao" was opened at the community cultural corner. International young people share the traditional Lantern Festival customs, learn Chinese traditional culture, and jointly unlock the "atmosphere of a reunited family.” Foreign friends and students from Morocco, Kenya, Russia, and other countries, together with community residents, experience traditional folk activities such as making lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, tasting Yuanxiao and all get together to celebrate the festival.

　　每个中国人对元宵节的记忆大概都是从手里的一盏小小的花灯开始的。宋代时，奇幻精美的灯饰就数不胜数。猜灯谜又叫打灯谜，是元宵节的一项传统活动，灯谜最早是由谜语发展而来的。谜语悬之于灯，供人猜射。为了让外国友人在了解中国的同时，还能体验中国的传统民俗，本次活动将传统字谜与当代社会生活结合在一起，在设计谜面时把中国文化、地理、非遗、传统民俗等元素融入其中，以增加外国友人对中国文化的了解和认同。猜谜活动受到了社区居民和外国朋友的热烈欢迎，大家纷纷参与其中，体验元宵习俗。其中一位来自肯尼亚的外国友人猜中了一个谜底为汉字“望”的谜语，兴奋地与身边人分享自己的喜悦，并表示期待与中国朋友们过更多的中国节日。

　　Every Chinese person's memory of the Lantern Festival probably begins with a small lantern in his hand. In the Song Dynasty, there were countless fantastic and exquisite lights. Guessing lantern riddles, also called playing lantern riddles, is a traditional activity of the Lantern Festival. The lantern riddles were first developed from secrets. Riddles hang on the lamp for people to guess. This activity combines classic crossword puzzles with a contemporary social life to enable foreign friends to experience Chinese traditional folk customs while understanding China. It integrates Chinese culture, geography, intangible cultural heritage, traditional folk customs, and other elements into the design of riddles to increase foreign friends' understanding and recognition of Chinese culture. The guessing activity was warmly welcomed by the community residents and foreign friends, and everyone participated in it to experience the Yuanxiao custom. One of the foreign friends from Kenya guessed a riddle with the answer of the Chinese character "Wang.” He was excited to share his joy with the people around him and said he looked forward to spending more Chinese festivals with his friends.

　　活动现场，外国友人和少年儿童好奇地在花灯间穿梭破解灯谜，感受着汉文化特有的风雅。而后，大家围坐品尝“福字元宵”的美味，感受悠久的传统文化与新中式潮流的交融互济，话语间尽是温暖惬意。

　　在喜庆祥和的氛围中，来自俄罗斯的苏珊表示，“在济南过了几次中国传统节日，让我对中国节日有了进一步的了解，也慢慢理解了团圆的意义。”她表示，虽然饺子在中国可以很轻易买到，但“汤圆”只有在元宵节这天才能吃出独特的意义，美食和家人、朋友融合一起的味道，是难以忘怀的回忆。

　　At the event site, foreign friends and children were curious to shuttle between the lanterns to solve the lantern riddles, feeling the unique elegance of Chinese culture. Then, everyone sat around to taste the delicious "Fuzi Yuanxiao" and felt the blend of the time-honored traditional culture and the new Chinese trend, and the words were warm and cozy.

　　In a festive and peaceful atmosphere, Susan from Russia said, "Having spent several Chinese traditional festivals in Jinan, I have a further understanding of Chinese festivals and gradually understood the meaning of reunion." She said that although dumplings can be easily bought in China, "rice dumplings” can only be eaten on the Lantern Festival, and the taste of food mixed with family and friends is an unforgettable memory.

　　摩洛哥青年、山东建筑大学留学生Hamza表示，他刚刚来到济南两个月左右，从来没参加过这样的活动，能参与这项活动非常兴奋，也认识了很多新朋友，Hamza在现场说：“我之前在家乡参与过灯笼制作的流程，但今年是第一次在中国过元宵节，跟大家一起做花灯，一起品尝元宵很开心，也很有年味儿！”

　　Hamza, a Moroccan youth and international student from Shandong University of Architecture and Architecture, said he had just arrived in Jinan about two months and had never participated in such an activity. He was excited to participate in this activity and made many new friends. Hamza said at the scene: "I have participated in making lanterns in my hometown before, but this is the first time to celebrate the Lantern Festival in China. It's delightful to make lanterns with everyone and taste Yuanxiao (Filled round balls made of glutinous rice flour for Lantern Festival) Festival together. It's also very festive!"

　　做花灯、猜灯谜、吃元宵…传统的元宵民俗活动中，蕴含着中国人独有的浪漫。重温民俗经典，近距离感受传统中国手工艺的独特魅力，是国际传播重要的课题。元宵节，是中华传统文化的一抹浓重色彩，此次活动让在济的外国友人们体验了花样年味，品味我国传统文化的独特魅力的同时，也让他们感受到了济南这座“东亚文化之都”的温度和厚度。

　　Making lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, eating Yuanxiao ... The traditional Yuanxiao folk activities contain the unique romance of the Chinese people. Reviewing the classic folk customs and experiencing the unique charm of traditional Chinese handicrafts at a close distance is an essential topic for international communication. The Yuanxiao is an intense color of traditional Chinese culture. This activity lets foreign friends in Jinan experience the flavor of variety and tastes the unique charm of China's traditional culture. At the same time, they also felt the temperature and depth of Jinan, the "Capital of East Asian Culture.”

　　目前，济南国际传播中心致力于用外国人视角向世界讲述中国传统文化故事，多维度展现我国多民族文化独特魅力。随着系列活动的相继开展，我们期待更多外国友人参与到活动中，分享他们眼中多姿多彩的中国。

　　Jinan International Communication Center is committed to telling the story of traditional Chinese culture to the world from the perspective of foreigners and showing the unique charm of China's multi-ethnic culture in multiple dimensions. With the series of activities carried out in succession, we expect more foreign friends to participate and share colorful China in their eyes.