Chapter 1
In the Zhanjiang and Leizhou Peninsula region, it is customary for families celebrating the birth of a son to visit the Earth God Temple and light a ceremonial lantern, followed by community feasts and Cantonese opera performances. Meanwhile, childless couples or those wishing to have children may take part in the folk custom of symbolically “stealing” a white radish during the festivities. The radish is then brought home and hung beside the bed as a blessing and a prayer for the arrival of a child in the following year.
Chapter 1:
The Zhanjiang Lantern-Lighting Ceremony
(New Son Celebration)
A Traditional Folk Custom of Blessings and Celebration in the Leizhou Peninsula
Where Does the Ceremony Take Place
Zhanjiang Lantern-Hanging Ceremony
Meaning of the Ceremony
1
When a baby boy reaches one month old or a son is newly born, the family prepares a decorative lantern, incense, candles, and offerings.
Preparing Gifts and Offerings
2
The family goes to the local Earth God temple or ancestral shrine to light a ceremonial lantern, praying for peace, prosperity, and the continuation of the family line.
Lighting the Lantern at the Earth God Temple
3
Banquet and Celebration Wine
A community banquet is held to entertain relatives, friends, and neighbors.
4
Watching Cantonese Opera
An opera stage is set up and Cantonese opera performances are held, creating a festive atmosphere for the entire village.
5
“Stealing” a White Radish
During the opera festivities, people wishing for children quietly take a white radish from the Earth God temple. The act symbolizes “bringing a child home.”
6
Bringing the White Radish Home
The white radish is taken home. Some families cook it immediately, while others bring it into the bedroom, symbolizing the arrival of fertility and descendants into the household.
7
01 The Region
Hanging the Radish by the Bed
The white radish is hung beside the bed as a wish for a son in the coming year.
More about
the Ceremony
Where does
the Ceremony
take place
Meaning of
the Ceremony
Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
Learn about the meaning
Zhanjiang is a coastal city located in the southwestern part of Guangdong Province, China. Situated on the Leizhou Peninsula and facing the South China Sea, it serves as an important port and transportation hub.
The city is known for its extensive coastline, marine resources, and strategic location connecting southern China with Southeast Asia.
The lighting ceremony celebrates the birth of a son and his entry into the family lineage. The lantern symbolizes new life and ancestral continuity, while white radishes express the wish for more male descendants.