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Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
Performers engage in a dragon dance, during the Qiantong Lantern Festival Parade in Qiantong Town, Ninghai County, east China's Zhejiang Province, February 23, 2024. /Xinhua
The Lantern Festival, celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is known for its colorful lantern displays, lion and dragon dances, and the enjoyment of tangyuan or yuanxiao — the sweet glutinous rice balls that symbolize family unity and prosperity.
Falling on the first full moon of the new lunar year, the Lantern Festival has a history spanning over 2,000 years, dating back to the Han Dynasty. This period in Chinese history was marked by significant cultural development, and the festival's inception is often attributed to a decree by Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 25) to honor deities and ancestors with lantern displays, symbolizing hope and renewal.
Diverse celebrations during festival
A myriad of customs and traditions are associated with the Lantern Festival, evolving over time and varying by region across China. The most iconic of these is the lighting of lanterns, which are displayed in different shapes and sizes, from simple paper lanterns to intricate designs depicting animals, plants, or scenes from popular stories and myths.
A lantern show in a community, showcasing a dazzling array of colors and designs, Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, February 23, 2024. /CFP
In many northern parts of China, grand lantern displays featuring diverse sizes and themes, create a captivating scene. Meanwhile, in the south, the tradition of floating lanterns on rivers, especially in water-rich areas, offers a beautiful and symbolic gesture of releasing the past to embrace the future.
More than just a visual spectacle, the lanterns are part of China's intangible cultural heritage, symbolizing hope and renewal as they illuminate the darkness to welcome the new year.
"Before the advent of electric lighting, darkness at night made having a light to guide the way a source of comfort and longing," said Li Lu, vice president of the Beijing History, Geography, and Folklore Society. "Back then, people held a deep appreciation for lanterns."
Folk artists perform dragon dance in celebration of the Lantern Festival in Luoyang, an ancient capital city in central China's Henan Province, February 23, 2024. /CFP
Another important tradition is the solving of lantern riddles. Lantern owners write riddles on pieces of paper and attach them to their lanterns. Festival-goers of all ages stroll among the lights, trying to solve these riddles—a unique way to welcome the new year with good wishes. Successful solvers often receive gifts, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The festival is also known for its lion dances, dragon dances, and stilt-walking. Lion and dragon dances, enjoyed in both northern and southern regions, are popular performances that weave through streets and along riversides. They are valued for their believed power to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Eating tangyuan or yuanxiao—sweet or savory glutinous rice balls—is a beloved festival tradition. Their round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion, embodying themes of harmony, family unity, and health. /CFP
Culinary delights and digital trends
The culinary tradition of eating tangyuan, or yuanxiao—glutinous rice balls with sweet or savory fillings, is a cherished custom of the festival. While known by different names in the north and south, the round shape of these treats symbolizes completeness and reunion, reflecting the festival's themes of harmony and family unity.
The preparation methods of this traditional food vary between northern and southern China. In the north, the process of making yuanxiao involves coating a dry, often sweet, filling with layers of glutinous rice flour by repeatedly soaking and rolling it in the flour until the desired size is achieved.
Conversely, in the south, tangyuan are crafted by first making a dough from glutinous rice flour, which is then shaped into balls. These balls are subsequently filled with a variety of fillings, ranging from sweet bean paste to savory minced meat. The name "tangyuan" sounds similar to "tuanyuan," signifying reunion, which is why these rice balls are especially favored during family meals as the Spring Festival draws to a close
Under the guidance of inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, children discover the joy of creating traditional handmade fish lanterns to celebrate the Lantern Festival, Rizhao City, east China's Shandong Province, February 23, 2024. /CFP
The image captures a bus carriage themed around the "Lantern Festival," incorporating elements such as lantern riddles and lanterns into its design, Jinhua city, east China's Zhejiang Province, February 23, 2024. /CFP
Additionally, the cultural celebration has extended beyond traditional foods to the way people prepare for the festival. During this period, there is an uptick in people turning to e-commerce platforms to search for and purchase items related to the celebration. Data from JD.com reveals that searches for "Lantern Festival" - related items like "tangyuan" or "yuanxiao" have doubled compared to last year
Similarly, search interest in "lanterns" has more than doubled from last year, with queries for "DIY lanterns" and "materials for handmade lanterns" increasing over tenfold. This shift towards crafting unique, handmade lanterns reflects a deeper desire among consumers to infuse the festival with individual creativity and a personal touch, blending tradition with modern festivity.