Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration held on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, usually in February or early March. It marks the end of Chinese New Year festivities, with communities gathering to light lanterns, solve riddles, and share sweet rice dumplings.

• Celebrated on the first full moon of the Chinese year
• Lanterns are often red, symbolizing good fortune
• Tangyuan or yuanxiao, sweet rice balls, are a festival treat
• Riddle-solving on lanterns is a popular custom
• In Malaysia and Singapore, oranges are tossed for luck in love

What it is

The Lantern Festival, also known as Yuánxiāo jié, is a cherished event that signals the conclusion of the Chinese New Year period. On this night, families and friends gather under the first full moon of the year, illuminating streets and homes with vibrant lanterns. The festival is a time for joy, reflection, and togetherness, as people let go of the old and welcome the new. Lanterns, often red for good luck, are carried or displayed, symbolizing hopes for happiness and prosperity in the year ahead. The festival is celebrated not only in China, but also in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and other places with Chinese communities.

Where it comes from

The Lantern Festival’s roots stretch back over two millennia, with traditions believed to have begun during the Han dynasty. Some accounts link its origin to Emperor Ming, who, inspired by Buddhist customs of lighting lanterns in temples, ordered lanterns to be lit across the empire. Other legends tell of ceremonies to honor deities like Taiyi, the God of Heaven, or Tianguan, the Taoist god of good fortune. Folklore also includes tales of clever villagers using lanterns and fireworks to trick the Jade Emperor and avert disaster. Over time, these stories and rituals blended, shaping the festival into a night of light, hope, and community.

How it is celebrated

On the Lantern Festival, people of all ages take to the streets with lanterns in hand, some simple and others crafted into elaborate shapes such as animals or flowers. Riddle-solving is a favorite activity, with clever puzzles written on lanterns for festival-goers to guess. In many places, the night sky is brightened by fireworks and firecrackers. A special treat for the occasion is tangyuan or yuanxiao—round, glutinous rice balls filled with sweet pastes like sesame or red bean—symbolizing family unity and completeness. In some regions, the festival is also a time for matchmaking, and in Malaysia and Singapore, young women may toss oranges with their names into rivers, hoping for romance.

Joining in

Visitors can experience the Lantern Festival in cities across China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and beyond. Major celebrations often take place in public squares, parks, and temples, where lantern displays and cultural performances create a lively atmosphere. Expect crowds, glowing lanterns, and the aroma of festival foods. Joining in is as simple as strolling among the lanterns, sampling tangyuan, and enjoying the festive spirit. In some places, you may be invited to try your hand at solving lantern riddles or watch traditional dances and fireworks.

Sources and attribution

This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Lantern Festival, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.

Read more

• Lantern Festival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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