The Chinese Lantern Festival, also known as Yuan Xiao Jie or Shang Yuan Festival, falls on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year.

The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year Festival. All the celebrations stop from this day, and the new year taboos are no longer in effect.

People will light up lanterns, guess lantern riddles, eat yuan xiao and enjoy time with families or lovers. It is a day for enjoying family time.

Origin of the Lantern Festival

The festival was said to become popular 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD).

Emperor Ming of Han was a big advocate of Buddhism. Hearing of the custom that monks would light lanterns to worship the Buddha on the 15th day of the first lunar month, he officially decreed that all palaces and temples should feature lanterns, and people right across the country should hang lanterns, creating the tradition of lantern displays.

During the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), this Buddhist festival has grown into a grand folk festival.

In ancient times, the first lunar month is called the "元 (yuán)" month, and the night is called "宵 (xiāo)". As people always light many lanterns on the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month, this festival was called the Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Festival (元宵节 yuán xiāo jié).

During the Lantern Festival, people celebrate through a series of traditional folk activities,

a.Lighting Colorful Lanterns

Lighting lanterns is probably the most widely-known tradition for celebrating the Lantern Festival.

Every year, lantern carnivals and exhibitions are held in parks and other public places, and lanterns of various colors, patterns, and styles are on display.

b.Eating Tang Yuan

Tangyuan (汤圆 tāng yuan), also called Yuan Xiao (元宵 yuán xiāo), is a must-eat food for the Lantern Festival. Shaped like a round ball, Tang Yuan symbolizes the full moon and people's desires for happiness and family reunions.

Tang Yuan is made of glutinous rice flour and is usually stuffed with sesame, peanut, and bean paste inside served in soup.

c.Enjoying Time with Families and Lovers

As the Lantern Festival is a part of the Spring Festival, it is still a time reserved for families. Gathering with families and eating Tang Yuan, the Lantern Festival has an important significant meaning of reunion.

Beyond that, the Lantern Festival is also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love and affection between lovers.

In ancient China, young ladies were not allowed to go out freely except at the time of the Lantern Festival. It was once customary for single people to carry lit lanterns on the streets in hopes of finding their true love.

With the beautiful full moon and fancy lanterns, the Lantern Festival was romantic enough to be an occasion for young ladies to meet their lovers. Just like the Mid-Autumn Festival!

As time passed, however, the festival no longer had such an emphasis on romance.

d. Guessing Lantern Riddles

Guessing lantern riddles is an incredibly popular activity during the Lantern Festival.

The riddles often contain messages of good fortune, family reunion, abundant harvests, and love. In ancient times, single people can attract the attention of their crush through this guessing game.

Right up until today, Chinese people convene delightful riddle competitions to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Lantern riddles are popular with people of all ages and walks of life as many of them are inspiring and fascinating.

e. Setting off Fireworks

Setting off fireworks used to be an indispensable custom on the Chinese New Year as well as on the Lantern Festival, creating a lovely festive atmosphere.

With the loud noise and brilliant spark, the celebration of the festival is ending.

Chinese Lantern Festival Food

The traditional food for the Lantern Festival is Tang Yuan ( sweet rice balls with black sesame fillings). Tang Yuan is round in shape, and the pronunciation of its name is similar to the Chinese expression of family togetherness (tuan yuan). So Tang Yuan symbolizes being together with your beloved ones. The sweet taste of the food also has a good symbol of a happy and sweet life in the future.

Tang Yuan can be boiled, fried, or steamed. It is traditionally served in fermented rice soup( Chinese sweet liquor).

How to Say Happy Lantern Festival

The most popular greeting for the Lantern Festival is Happy Lantern Festival or Happy Yuan Xiao Jie. In Chinese, it says 元宵节快乐 ( yuán xiāo jié kuài lè).