When is the Lantern Festival?
Lantern Festival, known as yuán xiāo jié 元 宵 节 or shàng yuán jié 上 元 节 in China, arrives two weeks after Chinese New Year, marking the end of the celebrations. The festival lands on the 15th day of the first lunar month of the new year, which this year falls on the 5th February. This was declared by Emperor Wen of Han.
What is the Festival’s History?
More than 2,000 years ago, lanterns were lit to bring good fortune. This eventually turned into the Lantern Festival. Emperor Wu of Han set this day to worship the Chinese God of the Universe, Tai Yi. During the rule of Emperor Ming of Han, Buddhism arrived in China. The monks lit lanterns for their god, Buddha. When Emperor Ming heard this, he ordered his people to light lanterns on the evening of the Lantern Festival.
Is the Lantern Festival the Chinese Valentine’s Day?
In ancient times, unmarried women couldn’t go out freely. However, during the Lantern Festival they could go out and interact with unmarried men. Therefore, the Lantern Festival is thought to be the Chinese Valentine’s Day.
How is the Festival Celebrated?
As the festival grew, more activities were added, including the dragon dance, the lion dance and guessing riddles. Red lanterns are hung everywhere and people who can guess the riddle stuck to the lanterns get a small prize! In the parks, the lanterns have various shapes. Tang yuan are rice balls filled with sesame paste, sweet red bean paste or peanut. These symbols of reunion and completeness are eaten during the festival.
Happy Lantern Festival!
I hope you found this interesting. What would your favourite activity be? I think mine would be the dragon dance. Happy Lantern Festival!