The Lantern Festival is the last important festival in the Chinese New Year customs. It is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year. Throughout the dynasties, there has been a custom of viewing lanterns during this festival, so it is also called the Lantern Festival [75]. Before the Song Dynasty, the Lantern Festival was often called “Yuan Ye”, “Yuan Xi” or “Shang Yuan”, while the term “Yuan Xiao” is more common in documents after the Song Dynasty.
The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that has become an important part of the Chinese New Year customs. It is truly a “carnival” for the whole society. From staying up all night on New Year’s Eve to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, all members of society, regardless of gender, age or status, join in the festival activities. The Lantern Festival is not only popular on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, but is also highly valued in overseas Chinese communities.
Story of the Lantern Festival
- Set up to commemorate the “pacification of the Lü clan”: After the death of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, the son of Empress Lü, Liu Ying, ascended the throne as Emperor Hui of Han. Emperor Hui was cowardly by nature, and power gradually fell into the hands of Empress Lü. Empress Lü monopolized the government and turned the Liu clan’s world into the Lü clan’s world. After Empress Lü died of illness, the Lü clan secretly gathered at the home of General Lü Lu to conspire to make trouble. In order to protect the Liu clan’s kingdom, Liu Xiang, the King of Qi of the Liu clan, raised an army to attack the Lü clan, and together with Zhou Bo and Chen Ping, he designed to remove Lü Lu and pacify the “Lü clan rebellion”. The ministers supported Liu Bang’s second son, Liu Heng, to ascend the throne and call him Emperor Wen of Han. Emperor Wen designated the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when the “Lü clan rebellion” was pacified, as a day to celebrate with the people. Every household in the capital decorated with lanterns and colors to celebrate. From then on, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month became a folk festival of “making a fuss about the Lantern Festival”.
- Dongfang Shuo and Yuanxiao Girl: According to legend, Dongfang Shuo, a favorite of Emperor Wu of Han, found that the palace maid Yuanxiao wanted to jump into a well because she missed her family in the imperial garden, and decided to help her. Dongfang Shuo set up a fortune-telling stall on Chang’an Street and let people draw the fortune saying “burned by fire on the 16th day of the first lunar month”. He also told people that on the evening of the 13th day of the first lunar month, the God of Fire would send a red-clothed goddess to investigate, and asked everyone to ask Emperor Wu to find a solution. Dongfang Shuo suggested that Emperor Wu let Yuanxiao make glutinous rice balls to worship the God of Fire, and ordered his subjects to hang lanterns, set off firecrackers and fireworks on the 15th night, and let the people outside the city enter the city to watch the lanterns. On the 15th day of the first lunar month, Yuanxiao’s family entered the city to watch the lanterns, and Yuanxiao reunited with her family. Emperor Wu of Han ordered that glutinous rice balls be made, lanterns hung and fireworks set off on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the future. Because Yuanxiao made the best glutinous rice balls, people called them Yuanxiao, and this day was called the Lantern Festival.
- The legend of lanterns: It is said that a long time ago, a divine bird got lost and landed on the earth and was shot dead by hunters. The emperor of heaven was furious and ordered to send heavenly soldiers to set fire to the earth on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The daughter of the emperor of heaven was kind-hearted and secretly told people. An old man came up with a way to let every household hang lanterns, light firecrackers and set off fireworks on the 14th, 15th and 16th days of the first lunar month, and the emperor of heaven would think that people were burned to death. People did so and saved their lives and property. To commemorate this, lanterns are hung and fireworks are set off on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Customs of the Lantern Festival
- Eating Lanterns: “Lanterns” are seasonal food of the Lantern Festival. They are made of white sugar, rose, sesame, etc., and are wrapped in glutinous rice flour into a round shape. They can be boiled in soup, fried or steamed, symbolizing reunion and harvest.
- Enjoying Lanterns: It is an important celebration of the Lantern Festival. During the Lantern Festival, lanterns are hung and markets are set up in various places, and various lanterns are sold. Nowadays, Beijing, Shanghai and other places often hold large-scale lantern exhibitions during the Lantern Festival, and northern cities such as Harbin will hold ice lantern exhibitions.
- Guess lantern riddles: Also known as “playing lantern riddles”, it was originally developed from riddles. Hanging riddles on lanterns for people to guess can both inspire wisdom and cater to the festive atmosphere.
- Dragon and lion dances: The dragon is the totem of China. Dragon and lion dances are traditional performances of the Lantern Festival. The festive atmosphere of singing and dancing adds to the excitement and joy of the festival.
- Send lanterns: Before the Lantern Festival, the bride’s family sends lanterns to the newly married daughter’s family, or general relatives and friends send lanterns to the newly married infertile family, in order to seek a good omen for the addition of children, because “lantern” and “ding” are homophones.
- Walking away from all diseases: Also known as traveling to all diseases, dispersing all diseases, etc., it is an activity to eliminate disasters and pray for health. It is usually held on the 16th day of the first lunar month. Women will make an appointment to go out, walk across bridges and cross rivers to eliminate diseases and prolong life.
