Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival

also called  Yuan Xiao Festival 

      holiday celebrated in China and other Asian countries that honours deceased ancestors on the 15th day of the first month (Yuan) of the lunar calendar. The Lantern Festival aims to promote reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness. The holiday marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year (see Lunar New Year). During the festival, houses are festooned with colourful lanterns, often with riddles written on them; if the riddle is answered correctly, the solver earns a small gift. Festival celebrations also include lion and dragon dances, parades, and fireworks. Small glutinous rice balls filled with fruits and nuts, called yuanxiao or tangyuan, are eaten during the festival. The round shape of the balls symbolizes wholeness and unity within the family.

      The Lantern Festival may originate as far back as the Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE), when Buddhist monks would light lanterns on the 15th day of the lunar year in honour of the Buddha. The rite was later adopted by the general population and spread throughout China and other parts of Asia. A legend concerning the festival's origin tells the tale of the Jade Emperor (You Di), who became angered at a town for killing his goose. He planned to destroy the town with fire, but he was thwarted by a fairy who advised the people to light lanterns across the town on the appointed day of destruction. The emperor, fooled by all the light, assumed the town was already engulfed in flames. The town was spared, and in gratitude the people continued to commemorate the event annually by carrying colourful lanterns throughout the town.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lantern Festival — For the festival associated with mooncakes sometimes called Lantern Festival, see Mid Autumn Festival. Lantern Festival Lantern Festival at night in Taipei Official name Shangyua …   Wikipedia

  • Lantern Festival — Also known as the Festival of First Origin and the First Moon Festival, the celebration of the first full moon of the Chinese New Year, on the fifteenth day of the first month, is one of the most ancient observances in the Chinese ritual calendar …   Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture

  • Lantern Festival — noun another name for Bon …   English new terms dictionary

  • Lantern Festival — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Giant Lantern Festival — The Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival held in December (Saturday before Christmas Eve) in the City of San Fernando in the Philippines. The festival features a competition of giant lanterns. Because of the popularity of the festival,… …   Wikipedia

  • Taiwan Lantern Festival — The Taiwan Lantern Festival (臺灣燈會) is an annual event hosted by the Tourism Bureau (觀光局) of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (交通部) in Taiwan to celebrate the Lantern Festival. There are many activities all over Taiwan during… …   Wikipedia

  • Toronto Chinese Lantern Festival — The Toronto Chinese Lantern Festival is a festival held at Ontario Place, Toronto, Ontario. Sponsored by the Rogers Media Group, the festival is the largest lantern festival outside Asia. [ [http://gocanada.about.com/b/a/257218.htm Rogers Chinese …   Wikipedia

  • Festival japonés — Los puestos vendiendo comida y juguetes son típicos en los festivales japoneses …   Wikipedia Español

  • Sky lantern — Yi Peng (Loi Krathong) festival in Tudongkasatan Lanna (Lanna Meditation Retreat Centre) , Mae Jo Chiang Mai, Thailand Chinese name …   Wikipedia

  • Mid-Autumn Festival — For other harvest festivals that may be known as Mid Autumn Festival, see Mid Autumn Festival (disambiguation). For the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival known as Yuan Xiao (元宵節), Chap Goh Meh, Yuen Siu (元宵), Shang Yuan (上元), and Tết Nguyên Tiêu …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”