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When does the Chinese Lantern Festival take place?
The Chinese Lantern Festival typically occurs on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is also known as the Chinese Lantern Festival.
The term 'Nguyên Tiêu' originates from Chinese, where 'Nguyên' means first and 'Tiêu' means night. Thus, Nguyên Tiêu signifies the first full moon night of the new year. Additionally, the festival is also referred to as the Shangyuan Festival.
The Chinese Lantern Festival occurs on the 15th day of the first lunar month
The Origin and Significance of the Chinese Lantern Festival
The Origin of the Lantern Festival
In ancient times, the Lantern Festival was also known as the Zhuangyuan Festival. 'Nguyên' refers to the top scholar, and 'Tiêu' means night. Thus, the Lantern Festival was a celebration for scholars. Every year, during this festival, the king would host a banquet to honor these scholars. They were invited to the royal garden to admire flowers, enjoy the scenery, compose poetry, and savor exquisite dishes.
With over 2000 years of history, there are numerous tales surrounding the origins of this Chinese festival. However, the most prominent are the following two stories.
Origin 1: The Tale of Deceiving the Jade Emperor
In ancient times, the Jade Emperor's swan wandered to the mortal world and was killed by a hunter. Enraged, the Jade Emperor ordered a celestial general to burn the earth. Disagreeing with this decision, some deities descended to advise the mortals. They instructed villagers to hang red lanterns and set off fireworks to deceive the Jade Emperor into believing the world was already ablaze. From then on, humanity was spared from destruction, and the tradition of lighting lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month has endured.
Origin 2: The Filial Piety of a Palace Maid
It is said that during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, a palace maid named Yuanxiao wished to visit her parents on the 15th day of the first lunar month but was forbidden. Overwhelmed by grief and longing, she contemplated suicide. Moved by her filial devotion, Dongfang Shuo devised a plan to help her. He told the emperor that the heavens would send the Fire God to burn the capital on the 16th. To avert disaster, every household must hang lanterns everywhere on the 15th. The emperor believed him and ordered the people to comply. Amidst the lantern festivities, Yuanxiao successfully escaped to visit her parents.
The Origin of the Traditional Festival - Chinese Lantern Festival
The Significance of the Lantern Festival
The Chinese Lantern Festival symbolizes reunion and unity. It is a time for descendants to express respect to their ancestors and pray for a peaceful and prosperous new year. It is also an opportunity for people to relax, enjoy the scenery, and admire the moon before returning to their daily routines.
In Vietnam, the 15th day of the first lunar month is also when people visit temples together to pray for luck and happiness in the coming year.
Wishing for a peaceful and happy new year during the Chinese Lantern Festival
Customs of the Chinese Lantern Festival
During the Lantern Festival, the Chinese engage in unique traditional customs and activities. Explore these fascinating traditions to create unforgettable memories when visiting China.
Ancestor and Kitchen God Worship
As an important traditional festival in China, preparing offerings for ancestors is a significant ritual. Depending on the family's means, each household prepares a suitable feast. A basic savory offering typically includes: glutinous rice balls, boiled pork shoulder, boiled chicken, mixed stir-fry, spring rolls, bamboo shoot soup, stir-fried vegetables, red sticky rice, Vietnamese sausage, fruits, and other items like betel leaves, fresh flowers, wine, and joss paper.
If your family worships Buddha, a vegetarian offering can be prepared, including: fruits, bean dishes, sticky rice, glutinous rice balls, vegetable soup, and more. Typically, a vegetarian feast consists of 10, 12, or even 25 dishes.
Ancestral offering on the 15th day of the first lunar month
Solving lantern riddles
Solving lantern riddles is a beloved traditional activity during the Lantern Festival, especially for children, often enjoyed during a 5-day, 4-night all-inclusive China tour during the festival. This tradition dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Riddles are hung on lanterns, and those who solve them receive small gifts from the host.
Enjoying lion and dragon dances
Lions and dragons are sacred creatures symbolizing good fortune, strength, and prosperity. During the Chinese Lantern Festival, lion and dragon dances are performed to pray for a bountiful and peaceful new year. These dances also showcase traditional beauty and artistry to both local and international visitors.
Witnessing the unique traditional lion and dragon dances
Stilt walking
Stilt walking is a spontaneous activity organized by the community. Before the 15th day of the lunar month, people gather to experience walking on stilts and enjoy a bird's-eye view. This tradition symbolizes gaining a broader perspective and achieving higher success in the new year.
Culinary delights during the Lantern Festival
When participating in the traditional festival, you must not miss these unique dishes:
- Tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls): A dish symbolizing reunion that you cannot miss. With their round shape, sweet flavor, and a name sounding like 'togetherness,' people believe eating them brings a fulfilling and happy life. Tangyuan can be boiled, fried, or steamed, offering various choices.
- Lettuce: Pronounced similarly to 'wealth generation,' eating lettuce during the festival is believed to bring prosperity. It is often paired with grilled dishes or noodles.
- Dumplings: Northern Chinese have a tradition of eating dumplings during the Lantern Festival. Dumplings come in various colors and fillings, making them a versatile choice. They are also a staple at celebrations and family gatherings.
- Red Date Cake: With its signature red color, eating red date cake is believed to bring good luck and fulfill wishes. Its delicious flavor is unforgettable.
- Mantou (Steamed Buns): The tradition of eating mantou during the festival originates from Zhejiang. Made from leavened flour and oatmeal, these buns have a mild, pleasant taste and a round shape symbolizing family unity and prosperity.
Savor the delicious taste of tangyuan during the Lantern Festival
Taboos to avoid during the Chinese Lantern Festival
During the significant Lantern Festival, alongside recommended practices, there are certain taboos that people should be mindful of.
Getting a haircut
Folklore has it that 'Do not cut your hair in the first lunar month; cutting hair in this month brings misfortune to your uncle.' The 'uncle' here is symbolic, reminding people to avoid cutting hair to show respect to their parents. Additionally, the Chinese believe hair symbolizes good fortune, and disturbing it in the new year may reduce one's luck for the entire year.
Avoid killing
Legend has it that the 15th day of the first lunar month is an auspicious day, marking the birth of the Jade Emperor. Therefore, people should minimize noise and avoid disturbances. Killing animals is also taboo on this day, as blood is believed to bring bad luck, affecting health and wealth.
Additionally, people should avoid desolate or remote places like cemeteries to preserve their positive energy.
Borrowing money
Borrowing money is inherently a sensitive issue in daily life. Therefore, during the Chinese Lantern Festival, it is strictly avoided. Ancient beliefs suggest that lending money equates to lending away one's good fortune, potentially leading to a loss of luck in the new year.
People also avoid carrying large sums of money. Losing money is seen as a sign of financial loss, making it harder to seize good opportunities in the coming year.
Taboos to observe during the Chinese Lantern Festival
Detailed guide to experiencing the Chinese Lantern Festival
Participating in the Chinese Lantern Festival will leave you with countless unforgettable memories in this culturally rich country. Save these travel tips for an exceptional experience:
- Book services early: During the festival season, the number of tourists visiting China is high. To secure the best services at reasonable prices, book your China tour or other services well in advance.
- Clothing: Choose comfortable and practical outfits for the festival, as you may need to walk extensively to explore the lantern festival venues.
- Traveling with children: If traveling with kids, ensure they are closely supervised to avoid getting lost in the crowd.
- Emergency contacts: In crowded festival areas, keep the contact details of your hotel manager or tour leader handy for safety.
- Personal belongings: With large crowds expected, take extra care of your belongings to prevent any mishaps during your trip.
Travel tips for experiencing the Chinese Lantern Festival
Above is detailed information about the Chinese Lantern Festival compiled by Mytour. We hope this guide helps you confidently plan your visit to this populous country during the upcoming festival. Don’t forget to contact Mytour for quick and detailed support on traveling to China.
Author: Phương Thảo
Image source: Internet
