I’m pretty sure you guys all know about or heard about the Lunar New Year, which was just two weeks ago, but have you guys ever heard of the Lantern Festival? This festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and it is the last day of the Lunar New Year celebration. The Lantern Festival has been around for over 2000 years. Many people aren’t really sure how this festival actually began, but it was first seen during the Han Dynasty. There are many activities associated with this festival. Let’s take a look at a few:
1) Lighting Lantern (赏龙灯)
赏龙灯 is a very common activity that is related to celebrating the Lantern Festival. There are many types of lanterns that are used to celebrate. Three main ones are hanging lanterns, flying lanterns, and floating lanterns. Lighting Lanterns during this festival symbolizes lighting up the future. It is a way for many people to pray for the future and for their families.
2) Guessing Lantern Riddles (猜灯谜)
猜灯谜 is also a very popular activity; this activity started during the Song Dynasty. People will gather around guessing riddles related to the history of lanterns or anything related to this festival. Once they guess the answer, they can go directly to the owner to earn a small prize. Kids around 9-12 generally enjoy this activity.
3) Eating TangYuan (汤圆)
One of my favorite parts about the Lantern Festival is eating 汤圆 or 元宵. These 元宵 are made out of glutinous rice flour with different kinds of filling including sesame seed, peanuts, white sugar, brown sugar, and meat. 元宵 can be cooked in many ways. It can be boiled, fried, or steamed, but most people eat it boiled. Eating TangYuan indicates unity, and it is also a way for people to express their prayer to families.
Sources:
https://chinesenewyear.net/lantern-festival/
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/lantern.htm
Great article, it’s nice to see a lesser known holiday such as the Lantern festival placed in the spotlight, as the more well known holiday known as the Chinese Lunar New Year tends to overshadow the Lantern festival. It’s pretty crazy that these Chinese traditions including this holiday have been preserved for several thousand years. I knew that the Lantern festival would obviously include lighting lanterns in some form, but I learned from this article that lighting these lanterns symbolizes one lighting up the way for their future. I thought that the riddles are a fun way to include kids into the festival with a simple, yet intriguing game of guessing with a reward waiting for them sometimes. My family also often eats tangyuan during many Chinese celebrations including the Lantern festival. There are many different flavors and ways to cook them, but I prefer mine in the black sesame flavor and boiled. I learned last year also that the tangyuan symbolize unity, especially between family. All in all, the Lantern festival is another great time for Chinese people to get together with family and enjoy Chinese traditions carried on from several thousands of years ago.
Before reading this article, I did know about the lantern festival, and also some traditions. Yet I did not know about guessing lantern riddles before reading this. I also did not know that people ate TangYuan during the lantern festival either. I also had no idea that the lantern festival had been around for over 2000 years! Also, I like that you added the sources you used in the article! Good Job!