臺灣上元節民俗采風

Folk Customs of Shangyuan Festival in Taiwan

「上元節」，又稱「元宵節」，為臺灣民間重要節日之一，全臺各地都有以「燈」為主題之慶祝活動，例如：燈會、點光明燈、猜燈謎等等，各縣市亦因當地的歷史背景及人文風情而形成具地方特色的民俗祭典節慶。本文依臺灣北部、中部、南部、東部及離島等地區，專題調查、整理19項臺灣上元時節具文化資產身分的民俗祭典節慶，例如：平溪天燈節、水林蕃薯寮媽元宵夜巡、鹽水蜂炮、炮炸肉身寒單爺活動及馬祖擺暝扛乩遶境等，各縣市的在地特殊民俗，除了反映當地經濟產業與人文背景，亦顯示傳統社會人們面對自然災害、瘟疫疾病等焦慮與不安時，透過各種民俗儀式祈求庇佑平安的過程，歷經傳承，成為重要民俗文化資產。

Shangyuan Festival, also called Lantern Festival, is a crucial folk festival in Taiwan. Celebration activities featuring lanterns, such as Lantern Festival events, lighting worship candles, and solving lantern riddles, are held in many places across Taiwan. These folk festival activities in each county and city are characterized in accordance with the local history and cultural customs. This study conducted themed surveys in northern, central, southern, eastern, and offshore island regions in Taiwan and explored 19 folk festival events with cultural heritage identity for Shangyuan Festival such as the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, Shuilin Fanshuliao Mazu's night parade on Lantern Festival, Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, Taitung's Bombing Handan God Festival, and Matsu's Baiming Carnival with a Stroll around Beigan. The local customs specific to each county and city not only reflect the local economics, industries, and cultural backgrounds, but also demonstrate how people in traditional societies use various folk rituals to pray for protection and peace against natural disasters, plagues, and other concerns that cause anxiety and uneasiness. After generations of inheritance, these folk rituals become crucial folk cultural heritages.