Lantern Festival

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The Chinese Lantern Festival, also called Yuan Xiao Festival, is a yearly event in the Chinese calendar that takes place at the end of the Spring Festival. It is celebrated in China and other Asian countries. The festival celebrates peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. The lanterns illustrate people letting go of the past year and welcoming the new year with good fortune. It is a way for people to pray that they will have smooth futures and to express their best wishes for their families and friends.

The festival dates back more than 2000 years ago to a time when the Eastern Han dynasty was ruling China. Emperor Han Mingdi, who was a supporter of Buddhism, saw the Buddhist monks lighting lanterns at the end of the Spring Festival. Han Mingdi ordered that lanterns also be lit in houses and royal palaces on this night. Hence, the lantern festival was made official.
There is also a legend associated with the festival's origin. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor was angry with a town for killing a bird. He planned to destroy the town with fire but he was fooled by a fairy, who had told the people of the town to light lanterns. The emperor saw the light from the lanterns and he thought the town was already covered in flames. The emperor did not go through with his plan and so the town was saved. Every year after, people celebrated the anniversary of the event by lighting lanterns.

The festival itself takes place on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year. The Chinese calendar is organised around lunar months. As a result of this, the exact date of the festival can change from year to year. In 2023, the date will be Sunday 5th February; in 2024, the date will be 24th February.
The History of the Chinese Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is a significant festival in China.

During the Lantern Festival, there are magnificent lantern displays in various places. People stroll through the lantern shows, admiring the beautiful and elaborate lanterns. Lantern riddles are also a major attraction. People gather around lanterns to guess riddles, which is both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. Another important aspect of this festival is eating tangyuan or yuanxiao, delicious glutinous rice balls filled with sweet fillings. The Lantern Festival is a time of celebration, reunion, and joy, bringing warmth and happiness to people.

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Post by SaNa Ullah@ | Oct 10, 2024