On the Lantern Festival, February 12th, over 20 international students from our college were invited by the Publicity Department of the Taishun County to participate in the "Taishun Hundred Family Feast," a traditional folk event held at the Cultural and Sports Center in Sankui Town, Taishun County. This folk feast, which spans eight centuries, provided the students from more than ten countries with an in-depth experience of the unique charm of traditional Chinese festive culture.
At 11 a.m., the international students arrived in Sankui Town, where hundreds of banquet tables were set up along the road, creating a lively atmosphere. With the announcement of the host, the feast officially began. The students enjoyed 15 special Taishun dishes, including a colorful assortment of vegetables, steamed perch symbolizing abundance every year, and longan and red date tangyuan representing unity and completeness. During the feast, folk performances such as dragon dances and the intangible cultural heritage八宝灯 added a festive Lantern Festival ambiance. In particular, the face-changing puppet show drew rounds of applause from the students. Fideo from Cameroon expressed his surprise and delight, saying, "I think Chinese folk culture is amazing. Combining puppets with face-changing is very interesting."
After the feast, the students visited the Sankui Town Spring Festival market and walked across the covered bridge with a history of several hundred years, experiencing the unique culture and hospitality of the town. They were also fortunate to encounter the blessing ceremony in Zhangzhai Village, where the deity statue of Chen Shisi was carried out in a grand procession accompanied by drums and gongs. The students eagerly took photos of this rare moment and marveled at the rich diversity of local folk culture.
It is reported that the Taishun Hundred-Family Feast has a history of over 800 years, originating from the "Spring Blessing" ceremony during the Southern Song Dynasty. It is a unique symbol of the local Lantern Festival. The international students participating in the event came from countries such as Zimbabwe, Liberia, and Morocco. They once again experienced the charm of Lantern Festival folk activities and the profound meaning of "reunion."
