chinese lanterns, chinese traditions, lantern festival, lantern riddles, lunar new year, spring festival, yuanxiao festival

Intriguing Traditions of the Chinese Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is one of the most celebrated holidays across Asia and it officially marks the last day of the Lunar New Year celebrations. It falls on the 15th day of the 1st month on the Lunar Calendar, the first night of the year’s full moon. So this year it is on Friday, February ...

Jessica Kneipp

Ancient painting of a Lantern Festival.

The Legend of Chinese Lanterns

Chinese lanterns, also called colored lanterns, originated in China approximately 1,800 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty. Every year, during the Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, people hang up red lanterns to create a festive atmosphere because lanterns are a symbol of reunion. Since the Western ...

Raven Montmorency

Chinese lanterns.