Lantern Festival
Lantern Festival Illuminates China's Ancient Traditions
As the first full moon of the lunar year rises, China's Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāo Jié) transforms cities and villages into glowing spectacles, celebrating unity, renewal, and the enduring power of light. Held on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, the festival marks the culmination of Spring Festival festivities, blending millennia-old customs with modern innovations.
A Tapestry of Light and Legend
Originating over 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty, the festival honors deities and ancestors while symbolizing the end of winter's darkness. Streets shimmer with handcrafted lanterns shaped like dragons, flowers, and mythical creatures, each carrying symbolic meanings. Red, the color of luck, dominates the displays, while riddles written on lanterns challenge visitors to test their wit—a tradition dating to the Song Dynasty.
Rituals of Togetherness
Families gather to share tangyuan, sticky rice balls filled with sweet sesame or red bean paste. Their round shape represents wholeness and reunion, echoing the full moon above. In some areas, fire dances and dragon parades animate the night, while urban centers like Beijing and Xi'an host grand lantern fairs, drawing millions.
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