The Lantern Festival ends the 15 day celebration of Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, and is celebrated the night of the first full moon of the lunar New Year.
The date of Chinese New Year changes and is different from the date of the New Year holiday in the United States. Chinese New Year is not based on the Western Gregorian calendar, but rather the Chinese calendar, which is a complex combination of the solar and lunar calendars.
During the 15 day celebration of the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, people make a fresh start, and set the tone for the upcoming year. It is a time for reconciliation, to make peace and forgive old grudges. People are warm and friendly to one another, and many families, friends and neighbors exchange gifts. There are many practices that symbolize starting anew: homes and businesses are cleaned, and many people wear only new clothing on New Years Day. An essential part of the New Year celebration is to honor and respect deceased relatives and ancestors and family unity is a central theme of Chinese New Year. The holiday brings families together to celebrate with each other. This 15 day celebration ends with the Lantern Festival.
There are many different stories about the origins of the Lantern Festival. Some are based on spiritual practice like honoring Buddha, or Tianguan (the Taoist God of Good Fortune), while another popular story traces the Festivals origins to a homesick maid named Yuanxiao. Another story is that people believed they could see spirits flying in the light of the first full moon of the New Year, so they used lanterns to further illuminate the sky. There are other versions of the Festivals origins, but needless to say, the Festival has been in practice for around 2,000 years.
Of course, the main attraction at the Lantern Festival is the lanterns. Many lanterns are made to reflect historical Chinese themes, and depict scenes from stories and legends that express traditional values. They are also made to represent the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac and heroic figures. These are only some examples. The variety of lanterns at the Lantern Festival is limitless. A popular component of some of the lanterns are lantern riddles. These are riddles that are stuck on the surface of some of the lanterns for people to guess. Historically, the subjects of the riddles were traditional songs, poems, stories or historical events. People very much enjoy the challenge of solving these riddles and lantern riddle parties are sometimes held at temples on the night of the Lantern Festival. These contents show that the lanterns not only provide aesthetic pleasure, but also serve to celebrate and express Chinese history and culture.
The Lantern Festival is also popularly referred to as Chinese Valentines Day. In the past, it was the only day of the year a single woman could go out (chaperoned) and be seen by eligible bachelors. Now, many single people gather at the Festival, and some play matchmaking games with the lanterns.
The Lantern Festival is also celebrated by eating Tang Yuan. Tang Yuan are round balls of sticky rice flour with a variety of fillings from sweet to savory, including black sesame paste, tangerine peel, walnuts, meats, fish, and vegetables. It is an important practice to eat Tang Yuan during the Lantern Festival because they symbolize family reunion and unity, essential values of the celebration, and their shape is harmonious with the full moon.
In 2003, the Lantern Festival marked the beginning of the Year of the Ram. Rams are kind-hearted, gentle, and work to create a secure and peaceful environment. They are most content when surrounded by family and friends. The Year of the Ram is a time to slow down and enjoy time with family and loved ones.
Even though the Lantern Festival originated in China, many Chinese Americans celebrate it here in America as well. We are proud to carry on and share these traditions.