The Origin of Dragon Dance in Anfu, Jiangxi Province

Origin of Dragon Lantern Dance: On the 15th day of the first lunar month, Anfu has the custom of playing with lanterns and celebrating the Lantern Festival. There are two kinds of lanterns, one is the dragon lion lantern and carp lantern, and the other is the water lantern popular in Lushui River.

Guo Jun, a trainee reporter of Anfu News in Jiangxi, China, reported that the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month is the first important festival after the Spring Festival. In Anfu, besides eating Yuanxiao and solve riddles on the lanterns, the most lively thing is dragon dancing.

Before and after the Lantern Festival every year, the dragon lantern teams in Anfu County and towns have to go door-to-door to dance and celebrate the New Year, praying for good weather and good harvests in the new year. When the Dragon Lantern Team passed by the door, the residents went out to light firecrackers, commonly known as "Solitaire". In particular, shops doing business should put on a long string of firecrackers and fireworks, so that the dragon lantern team can turn around twice in front of their own shops, hoping that business will be prosperous this year.