Chinese Lantern Festival: Traditions, History, and Celebration Date

The celebration of the traditional Chinese lantern festival in China is very spectacular. Thousands of tourists from all over the world go to the Celestial Empire to see this beautiful end of the New Year holidays.

In this article, we will tell you when this holiday is celebrated and what role lanterns play. The information will be of interest to those who plan to participate in it, as well as to all connoisseurs of the culture and traditions of China.

Lantern Festival in China: facts

The next major traditional holiday after the Chinese New Year is the Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao Jie. It is celebrated in two weeks, on the 15th lunar day, the first full moon of the new month. In 2024, this day will be February 24.

The Lantern Festival in China marks the end of New Year celebrations and the arrival of spring. The symbol of the festival is the Chinese lantern. Lanterns come in different sizes and shapes, often gathered in garlands. Legend has it that the very first lantern was lit under the Han emperor Wu-Di, who ruled in 141–87 BC.

After the festival, the New Year celebrations officially end. Decorations are put away. People return from vacations and holidays.

The festival lasts for one day, but it attracts lantern lovers from all over the world. This event is considered one of the most attractive for tourists.

Read also: Chinese New Year 2024: When and How to Celebrate It

History of the Chinese Lantern Festival

This holiday is not as old as most other Chinese traditional festivals. It is only about 2000 years old. We will give you a detailed history of the Chinese lantern festival.

There are two main legends about its origin.

1. Popularization of Buddhist teachings among Chinese people

Emperor Han Min Di of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.) was a devotee of Buddhism and wanted to spread it in China. He knew that some monks burned lanterns in temples during the full moon to honor the Buddha and decided to bring this tradition to the royal palace. The new tradition took root and it was adopted by ordinary people. Gradually, the Buddhist tradition turned into a lantern festival.

2. A play for the Jade Emperor

The legend said that the ruler's favorite crane was killed by the villagers. The Jade Emperor ordered the village to be burned on the 15th day of the new lunar year. But his kind-hearted daughter took pity on people and secretly warned the inhabitants of the village. And the local wise man advised them to hang red lanterns on the houses and trees to make it look as if the village was on fire. When the Emperor saw the red gleams in the village, he decided that the heavens had already punished the village and tamed his anger. The tradition of hanging red lanterns has since been established to symbolize the beginning of a new life.

The modern red lantern festival is a reminder for people to let go of the past year easily and welcome the new year with gratitude and hope for the best.

Read also: How to Plan а Trip: 8 Steps

Chinese Lantern Festival Traditions

On this day, Chinese people light colored lanterns, cook delicious rice balls, and riddle each other. Below, we will tell you about interesting Chinese traditions.

Lanterns: entertainment and main decoration

The most important activity of the evening and night of this holiday is watching the wonderful lanterns of all colors, sizes, and shapes. Most of them are red, as this color means good luck. In China, it is customary to make lanterns with one's own hands. Often, this activity is entrusted to children. And lanterns are lit by the whole family.

When the Lantern Festival is celebrated in China, lanterns are everywhere: on houses, in offices, in stores, and even in government offices. In this way, people pray and ask for a better future and prosperity for their family.

Riddles with answers in lanterns

Since the Song Dynasty (960–1279), guessing riddles has been considered an obligatory part of the lantern festival in China. People write all kinds of riddles on pieces of paper and stick them on colorful lanterns. The owner of the lantern must give a prize to the person who guesses his riddle. People of all occupations and ages participate in this intellectual game. Children are especially fond of it.

Lion and dragon dances

This is popular entertainment at the lantern festival in China, the traditions of which involve the use of images of these animals. Why are these lions and dragons? The lion symbolizes courage, strength, and fortitude, and the dragon is a sign of luck.

Two dancers wear the same costume: the first acts as the head and front legs of the lion, while the second manages the rest of the body. This dance, despite its apparent simplicity, requires skills and coordination.

It is believed that by watching a performance involving lions and dragons, one gains protection from evil.

Walking on stilts

Another folk art that dates back to the olden days. Not everyone can take part in the procession on stilts at the Chinese Lantern Festival, as it requires dexterity. The Chinese put on brightly colored outfits, and an unforgettable carnival procession begins. Actors not only walk on stilts fixed to their feet but also perform complicated tricks. They portray various characters: fishermen, monks, and clowns, as well as funny scenes from everyday life.

Rice dumplings

Like any traditional festival, the Chinese Lantern Festival has its own specialty. Rice flour glue balls with a filling are called tangyuan in northern China and yuanxiao in the southern part of the country. Depending on the province, different fillings are preferred. It can be sugar, pink jam, sesame, sweet bean mass, marmalade, and many others. The filling should not always be sweet.

The rice ball symbolizes the full moon. For some Chinese, it is also a symbol of family reunion: the word tangyuan is consonant with the word tuanyuan — to reunite after separation.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Chinese Lantern Festival

Where, apart from China, is the Chinese Lantern Festival celebrated?

A lot of Chinese live and celebrate this holiday in neighboring countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore. Also, this festival is held in Canada and the United States.

Why do Chinese people celebrate the festival with lanterns?

Heavenly lanterns symbolize luck, hope, peace, and prosperity. The Chinese use them to express their hopes for the new year.