Lantern Festival

Categories:: Cultural
Tags:: Festivities Historical
Where:: China
Date change rule:: 15th day of the first lunar month (late February–early March)
Holiday emoji:: 🏮

The Lantern Festival illuminates the calendar every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the vibrant conclusion of Chinese New Year celebrations. Gather with family and friends to admire colorful lantern displays, solve riddles, and enjoy delicious tangyuan. Join the festivities and embrace this ancient cultural tradition!

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Expected Lantern Festival Deals

While specific 2027 promotions are still emerging, the Lantern Festival historically inspires a range of cultural and culinary deals. Expect Asian grocery stores like H Mart and 99 Ranch Market to feature discounts on tangyuan ingredients and traditional snacks. Cultural gift shops and online retailers such as YesStyle or Amazon often offer special pricing on decorative lanterns, traditional clothing, and festive decor. Restaurants specializing in regional Chinese cuisine, including popular chains like P.F. Chang’s or local favorites, may offer special menus or family meal deals. Travel agencies like Trip.com might highlight packages to destinations famous for their Lantern Festival celebrations. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as February approaches.

Platform Guide for Lantern Festival

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #LanternFestival. Share your most beautiful lantern photos or videos of family gatherings enjoying tangyuan.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #LanternFestival. Create short videos showcasing lantern riddles, DIY lantern crafts, or your favorite tangyuan recipes.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #LanternFestival. Share community event details or photos of local lantern parades.

Lantern Festival Hero

Emperor Ming of Han

Emperor Ming of Han (reigned 58–75 CE) is often credited with introducing the Lantern Festival to China. According to legend, he was a devout Buddhist and ordered all imperial palaces, temples, and common households to light lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month to show respect to the Buddha. This tradition gradually spread throughout the country, evolving into the vibrant cultural celebration we know today. His decree played a pivotal role in establishing the festival's widespread observance.

History of Lantern Festival

The origin of the Lantern Festival has brought about various beliefs and conceptions. However, its roots go way back to over 2,000 years ago and are famously associated with the dynasty of Emperor Ming at the time when Buddhism was evolving in China. Emperor Ming was a supporter of Buddhism, and when he noted how Buddhist monks would often light lanterns in temples on the 15th day of the first lunar month. He decreed that all households, temples, and the imperial palace light lanterns on that evening. So from there, lighting lanterns developed into a folk custom.

But there’s another origin, most likely a legend — the observation of the declining darkness of winter and how the community can move about at night with human-made light. During the Han dynasty, the lantern festival was associated with Ti Yin, the deity of the North Star. Some other legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism. Tianguan, being the Taoist deity responsible for good fortune, has his birthday on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is believed that Tianguan likes all types of entertainment, so his followers organize various activities during which they pray and plead for good fortune.

Yet another widespread legend about the origins of the Lantern Festival talks about an elegant crane that flew down to earth from the heavens. After it landed on earth, it was hunted down and slaughtered. This annoyed the Jade Emperor in heaven, and in his anger, he formed a storm of fire to engulf the entire village. Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty gave special allure to this event. In 104 B.C., he declared it as one of the most significant celebrations and decreed that the ceremony be held throughout the night.

Lantern Festival timeline

230 B.C.

The First Paper Lantern

Early data shows that the creation of the paper lantern started in China in 230 B.C.

104 B.C.

The Start of Lantern Festival

In 104 B.C., Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty declares that the ceremony should be held through the night.

2020

The Largest Lantern

The largest standing lantern is 66 feet 0 inches high and 107 feet 10 inches wide, and it was made in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

2022

The Celebration Continues

The Lantern Festival is still celebrated to this day.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Lantern Festival

Local businesses can honor the Lantern Festival by hosting cultural events, offering themed products, or decorating their spaces. Restaurants can feature special menus with traditional dishes like tangyuan or offer discounts on family-style meals. Retailers might showcase decorative lanterns, traditional clothing, or books on Chinese culture. Consider partnering with local cultural organizations to sponsor a lantern-making workshop or a community parade to engage with the local Asian-American community.

Lantern Festival FAQs

When is Lantern Festival?

In 2027, the Lantern Festival will be observed on Sunday, February 21, providing a relaxed weekend opportunity for families to gather and enjoy the festivities. It’s a time for reflection and community.

How is the Lantern Festival related to Chinese New Year?

As the grand finale of the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival is a crucial cultural event. It serves as a transition from the intense celebrations of the New Year to the resumption of daily life, with lanterns symbolizing new beginnings and good fortune for the coming year.

What food is traditionally eaten during the Lantern Festival?

Tangyuan, a must-have during the Lantern Festival, are often served in a sweet broth and can be enjoyed boiled or fried. This traditional delicacy is a highlight of the festival, with regional variations offering different flavors and textures to explore.

What is the significance of lanterns during the festival?

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the lanterns of the Lantern Festival represent the pursuit of light and the letting go of the past year. Children often carry them, and their intricate designs, sometimes in animal shapes, add to the festive atmosphere and cultural storytelling.

How to Observe Lantern Festival

Light colorful lanterns
Lighting lanterns is no doubt the most known tradition for commemorating the Lantern Festival. When darkness falls, people put candles inside the lanterns and carry them outside. There are even lantern carnivals and exhibitions.
Enjoy time with family or your partner
Gathering with families and eating Tangyuan is part of the many ways Lantern Festivals create opportunities for important family reunions. But the Lantern Festival is also known as Chinese Valentine's Day. It's a day to celebrate love and passion between lovers. In the past, young ladies were not allowed to go out freely except during the Lantern Festival. Then single people would carry lit lanterns on the streets in hopes of finding their true love.
Guess lantern riddles
Guessing lantern riddles is an extremely popular activity at Lantern Festivals. The riddles usually have messages of good fortune, abundant harvests, family, and love. In ancient times, singletons could attract the attention of their crush through this guessing game.

5 Incredible Facts About Lanterns

They are almost always red
99% of Chinese lanterns are red and oval-shaped, adorned with red and gold tassels.
There are three types of lanterns
There are hanging lanterns, flying lanterns, and floating lanterns.
Lanterns existed for over 2,000 years
Historians acknowledge that the first lanterns were used during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
There are four Lantern Festivals in China
There are four Lantern Festivals in China, which are Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, the Harbin Ice, Snow Sculpture Festival, and the Lantern Festival.
China’s lantern museum
There is just one lantern museum in China.

Why Lantern Festival is Important

We achieve a positive spirit
The Lantern Festival promotes reconciliation, peace, forgiveness, and love. When we wholesomely follow through the events of this day, we will undoubtedly achieve a positive spirit.
The lantern festival is fun
The lantern festival comes with fun for people of all ages. From the kids gleefully running around with colorful paper lanterns, to the young lovers getting to know each other and the families catching up, it's an all fun day for everyone.
We unite with family and friends
Lantern Festival is filled with color, fun, positivity, happiness, hope, love, and great memories that could last for eternity. This holiday is a family-friendly event that can be shared with everyone. Families, friends, neighbors, and others come together to create a cheerful, unforgettable experience.