When I grow up, I remember that on New Year's Eve, about a year or two before Guangxu, my mother was in the yard, and the snow had fallen more than a foot thick. When the incense burns, the snowflake falls from the dark air into the ring of fire, which is very white, and then flies near the fire, dancing out some golden light, and immediately goes out; The first one went out, followed by many others, like an upside-down "flower of peace". I remember this. I really feel that the immortal must have really returned to earth from the sky. -"Autobiography of Lao She"
Hu Shi's childhood eve
Every New Year's Eve, there is always a large group of debt collectors in my family, each holding a lantern and refusing to leave in the hall. Eldest brother has avoided going out. Two rows of chairs in the hall are full of lanterns and creditors. My mother goes in and out, making New Year's Eve dinner, thanking the kitchen god and giving lucky money, as if she had never seen this group of people before. In the middle of the night, it was almost "closed" and my mother went out the back door. A neighbor came to my house and each debtor developed a little money. Those who do good and evil, this group of debt collectors went out one by one with lanterns. After a while, big brother knocked at the door and came back. My mother never scolded him. And because it was New Year's Day, her face never showed any anger. I have spent six or seven Chinese New Year holidays like this.
-Hu Shi's Forty Reading Books
Shen Congwen remembers the Spring Festival in Xiangxi.
My hometown is a small county town with less than 10,000 residents on the edge of Xiangxi, but the lion dragon lantern fireworks were famous in various counties in Xiangxi half a century ago. On holidays, many communities have their own lights. From the first day to the twelfth day, it is called "sending lights", which means beating gongs and drums around the city. During the day, there are many gongs and drums playing in the water on the bridge, or hovering up and down on eight or nine tables of the Eight Immortals. Play clam shell essence under the lamp at night, accompanied by nice music. Thirteen to fifteen are called "burning lamps", and the main competition turns to the other side to see whose fireworks stand out.
As usual, with the qualifications of urchins, I followed the team everywhere with hundreds of urchins and spent it with everyone in firecrackers and fireworks. People who play with lanterns should not only rely on strength, but also be brave. To show that the hero is fearless, every time fireworks rise, white light pours several feet, and some roar like thunder. But these people, whether they are "thunderbolts" or "tigers coming down the mountain", should go into battle shirtless as usual and go forward bravely. We are too young to take part in such strenuous activities, so we can only refuel while we are busy. Because we can always follow the team, and the horses will not wander until it is almost white and everyone is exhausted. Accompanied by an old fisherman and a clam shell essence. As usual, clam shell essence chose a handsome boy of twelve or thirteen to play the role, and the old fisherman was doing it with white beard and white hair. This time is really ridiculous.
Finally, the guys in front of the venue were all busy. On the street, the southern goods shops, cloth shops and cigarette shops opened by Jiangxi people have set off firecrackers and burned paper to meet the god of wealth. Young Miao women living across the river are also selling lobster sauce and radish in the street. With this experience of playing and burning lanterns, when I grow up, I will feel quite familiar with and deeply understand the poems about the Lantern Festival in the Song Dynasty.
-"Shen Congwen's Works"