The Customs Of The Lantern Festival in China

Feb 27, 2025

 

1. Lantern Displays

Cities transform into glowing wonderlands with intricate lanterns shaped as dragons, zodiac animals, and mythological figures. Historically, lanterns symbolized dispelling darkness and welcoming spring's light. Modern spectacles like Zigong's International Lantern Festival  feature LED-illuminated installations spanning entire parks. Families often release sky lanterns inscribed with wishes, believed to carry hopes to the heavens.

2. Solving Riddles 

Literati traditions thrive through cai deng mi – riddles written on lantern scrolls. These poetic puzzles test knowledge of idioms, historical events, and nature. For example, a riddle might read: "A mountain with two peaks, clothed in clouds yet never cold" (Answer: The Chinese character 人, meaning "person"). Winners traditionally receive small red envelopes or handicrafts.

3. Tangyuan Feast 

Families bond over glutinous rice balls (tangyuan or yuanxiao), symbolizing unity. Southern versions feature sweet fillings like black sesame or red bean paste, while northern styles may include savory minced meat. The round shape mirrors the full moon, embodying completeness and familial harmony.

4. Dragon-Lion Dances

Troupes perform acrobatic dances in mythical creature costumes, accompanied by crashing cymbals and drums. The dragon, manipulated by 9+ dancers, chases a "wisdom pearl" representing success. Lion dances often include "plucking the greens" – retrieving lettuce hung high, which signifies prosperity.

5. Nighttime Courtship 

Derived from Tang Dynasty practices, single women once carried colored lanterns to temples praying for marriage luck. The phrase "Walking a hundred steps to cure ailments"  encouraged evening strolls to socialize and ward off illness. Though less common today, matchmaking events still occur in rural regions.

6. Firework Extravaganzas

Fireworks light up skies to repel evil spirits, echoing ancient beliefs about their noise scaring away Nian, the mythical beast. Cities like Nanjing host competitions for the most elaborate pyrotechnic displays synchronized to music.

7. Ancestral Tributes

Many households burn joss paper shaped into lanterns or ingots, honoring deceased relatives. Others float candle-lit lotus lanterns on rivers, guiding ancestral spirits back to the afterlife.