Author: Zhuofan Zhu
Editor: Colette Bobenrieth
The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. At the same time, it also symbolizes the reunion of families, as it occurs on the first full moon night after the Lunar New Year. In addition to this, it also marks the beginning of spring and is often considered the last day to celebrate the New Year. More than 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–24 AD), Emperor Wen commanded that the Lantern Festival be celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The fullening of the moon symbolizes the reunion of families. To celebrate the Lantern Festival, people hang lanterns everywhere, in their homes or on the streets. The lanterns depict various flying birds, jumping fish, or sparkling fireworks, showing a joyful ambiance. People will come out of their homes to enjoy this early spring scene when everything is sprouting.
In addition to this, lantern riddles are gradually becoming an indispensable part of the Lantern Festival. People write riddles on lanterns to inspire wisdom and enhance the entertainment of the festival.
What’s more, since Chinese people regard the dragon as a symbol of auspiciousness, at the festival, people do dragon lantern dances at the event and hope that the wonderful weather and tranquility this year would be an omen. Similar to the dragon lantern dance, it brings luck and well wishes.
It is inevitable to mention the Yuanxiao, as a special Chinese confection for the Lantern Festival. Yuanxiao are made of glutinous rice and are available in solid form or with fillings. The fillings include bean paste, sugar, hawthorn, and various fruits. They can be eaten boiled, fried, or steamed and fried. It is worth mentioning that this special confection for the Lantern Festival is relatively larger in northern China, while in comparison, the confection is relatively smaller, and it is called Tang Yuan, in southern China.
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