Written by
Anthony
The Lantern Festival, known as Yuanxiao Jie in Chinese, marks the grand finale of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Held on the 15th day of the first lunar month, it is the first full moon night of the new year. The name comes from the ancient Chinese words: “Yuan” meaning “beginning” and “Xiao” meaning “night.”
With a history of over 2,000 years, the festival’s origins trace back to the Han Dynasty, when Emperor Wu lit lanterns to honor the god Taiyi. Over time, lighting lanterns became a joyful tradition, and by the Tang and Song dynasties, it had grown into a major national celebration.
Today, the Lantern Festival is a vibrant holiday filled with colorful lantern displays, riddle guessing, dragon and lion dances, fireworks, and the sharing of sweet glutinous rice balls called tangyuan, symbolizing family unity and happiness. Celebrated across China and in Chinese communities worldwide, it remains one of the most cherished cultural festivals, officially recognized as part of China’s national intangible cultural heritage.
The origins of the Lantern Festival are rich and complex, with several fascinating theories rooted in Chinese history, religion, and culture.
One theory traces the festival back to Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty. After the political turmoil caused by Empress Lü’s family, Emperor Wen came to power on the 15th day of the first lunar month. To commemorate his peaceful rise and express gratitude, he declared that this date would be celebrated annually. In ancient Chinese, “Yuan” means “beginning of the year” and “Xiao” means “night,” giving the festival its name: Yuanxiao Jie.
Another theory links the festival to ancient rituals honoring Taiyi, the supreme god of the heavens. According to historical records in The Records of the Grand Historian, the Han court conducted night ceremonies on the 15th day of the first lunar month to worship Taiyi, accompanied by singing and stargazing. These practices eventually influenced the formation of the Lantern Festival’s nighttime celebrations.
Daoism also played a role. In Daoist belief, the universe is governed by three officials: the Heaven Official, the Earth Official, and the Water Official. The 15th day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the Heaven Official, who grants blessings. This day is known as Shangyuan Festival, part of the “Three Yuan Festivals.” This spiritual connection to blessings and cosmic harmony contributed to the Lantern Festival’s significance.
Some historians believe the Lantern Festival was influenced by Buddhism. According to Buddhist texts, Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty ordered lanterns to be lit on this night to honor the Buddha and symbolize the light of wisdom dispelling darkness. Over time, Buddhist ceremonies like the Lighting Dharma Assembly became popular, blending with local customs. By the Sui and Tang dynasties, lighting lanterns on the Lantern Festival had become a widespread folk tradition, deeply enriched by Buddhist culture.
The Lantern Festival has evolved over thousands of years, with each dynasty adding its own customs and richness to the celebration.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the introduction of Buddhism played a key role in shaping Lantern Festival traditions. Emperor Ming of Han ordered lanterns to be lit in the palace and temples on the 15th day of the first lunar month to honor the Buddha. Over time, this royal practice gradually spread to the general public, forming the early foundation of the lantern lighting custom.
By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, lantern displays had become increasingly popular. Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, a devout Buddhist, held grand lantern celebrations in his palace. Poets like Wu Jun described the dazzling lights during the full moon, and this period is often seen as a critical stage in the Lantern Festival’s full formation.
In the Sui Dynasty, the Lantern Festival reached new heights. The capital city of Chang’an was filled with people gathering to celebrate under countless lanterns. Official records mention noisy drums, torch-lit streets, and large-scale public entertainment, turning the festival into a major city-wide event.
During the Tang Dynasty, lighting lanterns officially became a national custom. With the flourishing of Buddhist culture and open foreign exchanges, the festival became even more grand. Lanterns were lit not only for religious devotion but also for entertainment. The emperor and empress would even secretly join the crowds to admire the lantern displays. The festival expanded to span multiple nights, with lavish decorations, poetic descriptions, and countless visitors flooding the streets.
In the Song Dynasty, the Lantern Festival became the most spectacular event of the year, surpassing even Chinese New Year in excitement. Streets were filled with colorful lanterns, music, dance, and theatrical performances that continued through the night. The emperor often joined the public to enjoy the festivities, symbolizing unity between the ruler and his people.
Unlike previous dynasties, the Yuan Dynasty imposed strict controls on Lantern Festival celebrations. Many public festivities and lantern displays were prohibited. The government promoted a culture of work and restraint, limiting large-scale public entertainment during the holiday.
The Ming Dynasty restored the festival’s glory, bringing back magnificent lantern displays that lasted for days. The festival blended seamlessly with Spring Festival activities, featuring vibrant markets, bustling streets, and nightly lantern displays. The famous “Lantern Festival Celebration Scroll” from 1485 vividly captures the festive atmosphere inside the Forbidden City, where Emperor Xianzong hosted extravagant celebrations.
In the Qing Dynasty, the royal court continued the grand traditions. Records show that from the reign of Emperor Taizong, elaborate lanterns were installed in the Forbidden City starting from late December and remained lit until February. The Qing emperors hosted banquets for foreign dignitaries, and elaborate lantern performances were staged in gardens like the Yuanmingyuan. Meanwhile, among the people, the lantern fairs remained vibrant and the lantern designs became increasingly intricate and creative.
The exact period when the Lantern Festival became fully established is still debated among scholars. However, most agree that the basic customs emerged during the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties, while the festival flourished during the Tang and Song dynasties as urban life developed.
As centuries passed, the length of Lantern Festival celebrations gradually expanded:
| Dynasty | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Han | 1 day | Celebrated only on the 15th day of the first lunar month |
| Tang | 3 days | Extended to include the day before and after |
| Song | 5 days | Expanded further, starting one day earlier and lasting three days after |
| Ming | 10 days | The longest in history, from the 8th to the 18th of the first lunar month |
| Qing | 3-6 days | Shortened again; 3 days in the north, up to 5-6 days in the south |
As the festival period extended, different nights took on special meanings. The first night of lantern lighting was called Trial Lantern (Shi Deng), the 15th night was Main Lantern (Zheng Deng), and the final night was Ending Lantern (Can Deng or Lan Deng). Some traditions also referred to God Lantern, Human Lantern, and Ghost Lantern, each with its own ritual purpose — to honor gods and ancestors, protect households, and offer peace to wandering spirits.
In modern China, the Lantern Festival is no longer a legal public holiday. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, national holidays were reorganized. Although Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) was extended, Lantern Festival remained unofficial due to its close proximity to the New Year break. While no longer a national holiday, the Lantern Festival remains deeply celebrated, with families gathering, cities hosting large lantern fairs, and traditions thriving across generations.
Beyond its historical roots, the Lantern Festival is also rich with colorful folktales that have been passed down for generations, adding charm and meaning to the holiday.
One legend suggests that the Lantern Festival originated from an ancient torch festival. In early times, villagers would light torches in fields and dance through the night, hoping to drive away pests and wild animals to protect their crops and ensure a good harvest. This fiery tradition continues today in some parts of southwestern China, where people still gather on the 15th day of the first lunar month to dance with torches made from reeds or tree branches.
A popular Han Dynasty tale features Dongfang Shuo, a witty and kind court official of Emperor Wu. One winter, Dongfang Shuo saved a young palace maid named Yuanxiao, who was heartbroken from being separated from her family. To reunite her with her loved ones, Dongfang Shuo cleverly spread a rumor that a massive fire would destroy Chang’an city on the 16th day. To “prevent” the disaster, the emperor ordered every household to hang lanterns, light fireworks, and gather in the streets on the night of the 15th. Yuanxiao’s family came to town to see the lights, and the girl was finally reunited with them under the glowing lanterns. The festival later took her name, Yuanxiao, which also became the name for the glutinous rice balls eaten during the celebration.
A modern tale from the early 20th century involves Yuan Shikai, who seized power after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Superstitious and fearful of opposition, Yuan disliked the word “Yuanxiao” because it sounded like “Yuan Xiao” (meaning “Yuan will be eliminated”). To avoid the unlucky association, he ordered people to call the holiday food Tangyuan or sweet rice balls instead. However, the term Yuanxiao remained popular among the people and is still commonly used in northern China today.
The Lantern Festival is filled with lively customs that have evolved over centuries. Many of these traditions reflect Chinese beliefs in family unity, good fortune, health, and happiness.
Eating Yuanxiao or Tangyuan is one of the most popular customs. These round, glutinous rice balls symbolize family reunion and completeness. The tradition began in the Song Dynasty, when these sweet treats were called names like “floating round balls” or “milk sugar balls.”
In northern China, they are known as Yuanxiao, made by rolling dry fillings in glutinous rice flour, while in the south, they are called Tangyuan, made by wrapping wet fillings with dough. Fillings can include sesame paste, peanuts, red bean, walnuts, pork, or even savory ingredients. Today, families enjoy Yuanxiao in various ways—boiled, fried, steamed, or even pan-fried.
Lantern displays are at the heart of the festival. Dating back to the Han Dynasty, lighting lanterns originally honored Buddhist traditions. Over time, the custom became a public celebration. Lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors decorate streets, parks, temples, and homes. Some lanterns carry wishes for children, as “lantern” (dēng) sounds like “son” (dīng), symbolizing hopes for healthy offspring.
Lantern riddles (Dēngmí) are a fun intellectual game that began during the Song Dynasty. Riddles are written on slips of paper attached to lanterns. Visitors read and try to solve them, often winning small prizes for correct answers. These riddles can involve poetry, proverbs, wordplay, or famous stories, challenging both wit and cultural knowledge.
Throughout history, the Lantern Festival has always been about lively nighttime celebrations. People enjoy fireworks, lion dances, dragon dances, firecrackers, and street performances. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, crowds of thousands gathered for music, dance, and entertainment that lasted from dusk until dawn.
In ancient times, the Lantern Festival was one of the few occasions when young men and women could meet freely. Because of strict curfews and social rules, this festival offered a rare chance for romance under the lantern-lit skies. Many love stories and poems about secret meetings were born during these festive nights, earning the festival the nickname “Chinese Valentine’s Day.”
Families often send lanterns to newly married daughters or childless couples as a blessing for fertility and happiness. In some regions like Xi’an, large palace lanterns and smaller lanterns are gifted to express these good wishes.
The Zigu (Purple Maiden) is an ancient goddess worshiped by women for luck, health, and fertility. Her worship dates back to the Southern Dynasties. During the Lantern Festival, some people still conduct small ceremonies in her honor, especially in rural areas.
Walking a Hundred Diseases is an ancient healing ritual. On the night of the Lantern Festival or the following day, women would walk across bridges or in open spaces while praying for protection from illness. In some areas, temporary wooden bridges were built just for this ritual.
Families involved in silk production practiced a unique custom called chasing mice. Since rodents threatened silk worms, families offered sticky rice to mice on Lantern night, hoping to keep them away from valuable silkworms.
Some regions observe ancient door and household sacrifices. Families place branches, food, or wine outside their doors to honor spirits and ancestors, seeking peace, protection, and prosperity.
The Lantern Festival is not only about lights and food — it’s also a grand stage for traditional folk performances. Across China, vibrant shows and lively street performances fill the night with joy and energy.
Every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month, cities and villages are decorated with colorful lanterns of all shapes and sizes. The tradition of lighting lanterns began in the Han Dynasty and flourished during the Tang and Song periods. In ancient times, people built towering lantern wheels, lantern towers, and lantern trees, creating breathtaking night scenes. Even today, major cities like Beijing host grand lantern exhibitions. In 2019, the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) opened for its first-ever night lantern show, lighting up the ancient palace with brilliant colors and historical charm.
The Dragon Dance is one of the most spectacular highlights of the Lantern Festival. Long, glowing dragons twist and turn as performers skillfully maneuver the dragon’s body to the beat of loud drums and gongs. The dragon symbolizes good luck, strength, and prosperity in Chinese culture. Records of dragon dances date back to the Han Dynasty, and the tradition remains a popular sight both in China and among Chinese communities worldwide.
Stilt walking is an ancient performing art that dates back to at least the Spring and Autumn Period (over 2,500 years ago). Performers strap long wooden stilts to their legs and walk, jump, or even perform acrobatics and swordplay. During the Lantern Festival, stilt walkers parade through the streets, often dressed in elaborate costumes, entertaining large crowds.
The Lion Dance is another essential performance during the festival. Two performers operate one lion costume — one controls the head, and the other the body and tail. The dance can be either gentle and playful (wen) or powerful and athletic (wu). The lion’s movements are accompanied by loud drums and cymbals, symbolizing the driving away of evil spirits and inviting good fortune. The Lion Dance has also become a beloved tradition in overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
The Land Boat Dance mimics rowing a boat on land. Performers, usually women, dress as boat passengers while carrying boat-shaped props made of bamboo and cloth. As they sing, dance, and sway, they simulate the movement of a boat gliding through water. Sometimes, a comical male character joins to create humorous scenes that delight the audience. This playful dance remains popular across many regions of China.
Though the Lantern Festival is celebrated across China, each region has developed its own unique customs, blending local culture, history, and tradition.
In Beijing, lantern fairs historically took place near today’s Dengshikou area, featuring intricate lantern displays and street performances. In rural areas, people built straw shelters decorated with hundreds of small oil lamps, creating scenes that looked like twinkling stars.
Tianjin locals make steamed hedgehog and mouse-shaped buns for good luck, symbolizing wealth and fortune. In Hebei, traditions like “Pulling Flowers” (folk dances) and “Passing Bridges” for health and fortune remain popular. In Shanxi, elaborate lantern displays continue for several nights.
In Inner Mongolia, dairy-based Yuanxiao are popular, filled with milk skin, cheese, or yogurt. On the night of the 15th, many also hold moon worship ceremonies.
Liaoning‘s Zhu Lu Ke Yellow River Array reenacts ancient military formations with tens of thousands participating each year. Heilongjiang‘s Aihui Shangyuan Festival blends Han, Manchu, Daur, Oroqen, and Ewenki cultures. In Jilin, people enjoy fireworks and the spectacular iron flower (molten iron fireworks) displays.
Shaanxi’s Binxian Lantern Mountain Fair dates back to the Tang Dynasty. In Gansu’s Yongchang, the ancient “Swastika Lantern City” displays 365 lantern poles symbolizing days of the year.
In Ningxia and Qinghai, the “Nine-Turn Yellow River Lantern Array” forms intricate lantern mazes representing zodiac signs, constellations, and local culture. In Xinjiang, lion dances and firework displays highlight the celebration.
Anhui features “Flour Lanterns,” while Hefei is famous for mechanical rotating lanterns called “Zou Ma Deng” (Running Horse Lanterns). In Zhejiang’s Hangzhou, women pray at temples for blessings.
In Taiwan, unmarried women traditionally pick green onions or vegetables on Lantern night, believing it will help them find a good husband.
In Henan, families place red lanterns at ancestral graves. Children playfully “steal” oil lamps to bring blessings. In Hubei’s Yangdian Town, massive high-stilt dragon and high-stilt performances date back over 600 years.
In Hunan, villages create “Fire God Oxen” out of straw, lit with incense sticks to bring peace. Jiangxi’s Shangban village displays massive “Bench Dragon” lanterns. Guangdong’s Maoming Six Double Lantern Festival is over 300 years old, while in Guangxi, ethnic minorities celebrate with unique customs like oil rice balls and bamboo stick drumming.
Sichuan‘s Zigong Lantern Festival is one of the most famous, blending art, technology, and tradition. In Fushun, the “Stealing Greens” tradition involves borrowing vegetables for good luck. Yunnan’s Mi Zhi Lantern Festival draws tens of thousands each year, while other ethnic minorities celebrate alongside their own traditional spring festivals.
In Guizhou’s Songtao Miao Autonomous County, the “Dragon Rolling” and “Dragon Bombing” events feature dozens of dragon teams and huge crowds. In Dejiang County, day and night celebrations include dragon dances, firecrackers, and folk performances that date back over 600 years.
While the Lantern Festival is rooted in Han Chinese tradition, many of China’s 55 ethnic minority groups also celebrate the holiday, adding rich diversity and local flavor to the festival.
The Manchu people celebrate the Lantern Festival much like the Han, with colorful lantern displays and eating Yuanxiao or Tangyuan. Lanterns are hung outside homes, and families gather to share sweet rice balls that symbolize reunion.
In Dali, Yunnan, the Bai people celebrate with dragon dances, lion dances, and the famous Flower Lantern Singing performances. Women also create a special ritual called Qing Girl Dance, where they dress a young girl figure in Bai costumes, place her on a swing, and sing traditional songs while parading through villages.
In Guizhou’s Huangping County, the Miao people celebrate the unique “Vegetable Stealing Festival”. Young women secretly pick vegetables from neighbors’ fields (never from family or close friends) to prepare a communal cabbage feast. According to local beliefs, the one who eats the most will marry early and have strong silkworms for better silk production.
In Lijiang, Yunnan, the Naxi people host a Stick Market Fair (Bangbang Fair) on the 15th day. Farmers gather to trade wooden farming tools like handles for axes, hoes, and sickles, preparing for the upcoming planting season.
The Yi people of Yunnan celebrate their Ba Wu Festival (“Hunter’s Return Festival”) on Lantern night, marking ancient hunting traditions. They also hold the colorful “Dress Competition Festival” (Saizhuang Festival), where women display their finest embroidered clothing and gather to sing, dance, and show off their needlework skills.
The Jingpo (or Jingpho) people of Dehong, Yunnan, celebrate the Munao Zongge Festival, meaning “everyone dances together.” The celebration, usually held around Lantern Festival, features large group dances on open fields lasting four to five days.
The Lantern Festival has inspired countless artworks, poems, songs, and even postage stamps, reflecting its deep cultural significance throughout Chinese history.
“The Lantern Festival Celebration Scroll” (Ming Dynasty)
This long handscroll vividly portrays Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty enjoying various Lantern Festival activities inside the Forbidden City. From morning to night, the emperor participates in music, dances, and lantern displays, beautifully capturing the grandeur of palace celebrations.
“Eight Boys Watching Lanterns” (Qing Dynasty)
Painted by Min Zhen, this charming scene shows eight children gazing at lanterns with innocent wonder. The artist skillfully captures the playfulness and joy of childhood during the festival.
“Qianlong Emperor Enjoying the Lantern Festival” (Qing Dynasty)
Painted by Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining), this large silk painting shows Emperor Qianlong calmly observing family members celebrating the festival in the royal garden.
“Lantern Festival” (Ming Dynasty, by Tang Yin)
This scroll features Tang Yin’s poetry written in his own calligraphy, capturing the poetic spirit of the festival.
Many renowned Chinese poets have written about the Lantern Festival:
Ouyang Xiu – “Sheng Cha Zi: Lantern Festival”
“Last year on this night, lanterns lit up like day. The moon above the willow, my beloved awaited me. This year, same moon and lights, but my tears soak my sleeves.”
Xin Qiji – “Qing Yu An: Lantern Festival Night”
“East wind brings blossoms like stars, bright lanterns light up the streets. Amidst the crowd, I searched thousands of times; suddenly I turn, she’s there in the dim lantern light.”
Other famous poets who celebrated the festival include Su Weidao, Lu Zhaolin, Li Shangyin, Zhang Hu, and Yuan Haowen. The Lantern Festival has long been a source of romantic and festive imagery in Chinese poetry.
Folk songs add warmth and emotion to the celebration:
Fujian and Taiwan folk song “Lantern Festival, Moon Full and Bright”
Expresses the joy of family reunions and cross-strait longing between mainland and Taiwan families.
Taiwanese nursery rhyme “Selling Tangyuan”
Cheerfully describes street vendors selling sweet glutinous rice balls during Lantern Festival nights.
The Lantern Festival has even appeared on Chinese postage stamps, preserving its traditions in miniature art:
2018 Lantern Festival Series
China Post issued its first Lantern Festival-themed stamps featuring scenes of eating Yuanxiao, viewing lanterns, and dragon and lion dances.
1981 Palace Lantern Series
Six stamps featuring royal-style palace lanterns with luxurious designs and intricate craftsmanship.
1985 Flower Lantern Series
Four stamps showing classic lantern forms: lotus, dragon and phoenix, flower baskets, and goldfish lanterns.
2006 Folk Lantern Series
Five stamps highlighting regional lantern styles from Shaanxi, Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangdong, rich in local folk culture.
The Lantern Festival brings a huge boost to the holiday economy every year:
Festival Shopping Boom
Sales of Yuanxiao, lanterns, decorations, and event tickets surge during the festival. Businesses launch special discounts, free rice ball giveaways, and limited-time holiday menus, attracting large crowds to stores and restaurants.
Nighttime Economy
Large-scale lantern shows, fireworks, and cultural performances, such as the Forbidden City’s famous “Lantern Night at the Palace”, draw massive crowds into cities at night. These events stimulate nighttime dining, shopping, and tourism.
Cultural Tourism Growth
Cities creatively blend traditional culture with modern technology, turning the Lantern Festival into multimedia experiences. Integrating folk arts, entertainment, and interactive shows brings new vitality to the cultural tourism industry.
The Lantern Festival embodies Chinese values of reunion, harmony, and hope. The round shape of the full moon and sweet rice balls symbolize family togetherness. The word “Yuan” (round) reflects spiritual completeness and national pride.
Throughout history, the festival has inspired countless poems, paintings, songs, and crafts, becoming a cherished part of China’s rich cultural heritage. In 2006, lantern art was officially recognized as national intangible cultural heritage.
The Lantern Festival isn’t just a day; it marks the final climax of the entire Spring Festival season. From family reunions to public gatherings, it connects people across communities. Traditionally, as families expanded their New Year visits, the Lantern Festival became a time for everyone—young and old, friends and strangers—to gather in shared celebration.
It also reflects ancient hopes for agricultural abundance, with rituals praying for good harvests, family prosperity, and peace throughout the coming year.
As Chinese communities spread worldwide, so has the Lantern Festival. Each region adds its own cultural flavor while preserving the festival’s core spirit:
Singapore
Lantern displays fill the streets, and activities include martial arts, lion dances, and “street-walking parades.” Locals even create colorful rainbow Yuanxiao.
Malaysia
Singles take part in the charming tradition of “Banana and Orange Tossing”: men throw bananas and women toss oranges into rivers with their phone numbers attached, hoping to meet a future partner.
South Korea
Known as Jeongwol Daeboreum, people eat multi-grain rice, nuts for strong teeth, and drink “ear-clearing wine” for good fortune. Bonfires called “Moon Houses” are lit as villagers sing and dance for blessings.
North Korea
People prepare special five-grain rice and “nine-vegetable stew” symbolizing health, wealth, and longevity. Young men and women hope to spot the first full moon for a year of good luck.
United States
In cities like San Francisco, grand parades feature Chinese dragon and lion dances, martial arts, floats, and fireworks. San Francisco’s parade is the largest nighttime parade outside of Asia and one of the world’s top ten parades.
One of the most iconic modern celebrations of the Lantern Festival is the CCTV Lantern Festival Gala, often called the “sister show” to China’s famous Spring Festival Gala. It has become the second most-watched holiday broadcast in China, only behind the Spring Festival Gala itself.
Continuing the joyful spirit of Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival Gala features a variety of performances, blending tradition with modern entertainment. Each year, the show includes:
Folk performances and cultural traditions
Popular songs and dances
Comedy sketches and cross-talk (Xiangsheng)
Acrobatics and magic shows
The lively program captures the essence of the Lantern Festival, offering audiences both at home and abroad a festive, colorful, and culturally rich evening filled with warmth, laughter, and the vibrant energy of Chinese folk traditions.
The Wood Goat corresponds to the years 1955, 2015 (Nayin “Sha Zhong Jin”). In the Five Elements system, “Wood” symbolizes growth, vitality, and adaptability, while “Goat” represents gentleness, kindness, and a strong sense of responsibility.
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