The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first Chinese lunar month and marks the end of the Chinese New Year. This year, the event took place on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. The origin of the festival can be traced back 2,000 years to the Eastern Han Dynasty. Some monks at the time would light lanterns in the temples to show respect to Buddha. When Emperor Hanmingdi, an advocate for Buddhism, heard of this, he ordered that all temples, households, and royal palaces light lanterns on that evening. The occasion eventually became a grand festival.
Activities of the Lantern Festival include guessing lantern riddles, dragon or lion dances, and eating tangyuan (or “yuan xiao”), a sweet, ball-shaped dumpling with different fillings such as white sugar, brown sugar, sesame seeds, peanuts, walnuts, rose petals, bean paste, and jujube paste or a combination of ingredients. It is a time for families to come together in a reunion and to celebrate.
The most notable aspect of the festival is the lighting and watching of the lanterns. Various lanterns symbolize different things, such as the Kongming lantern, which represents hope, success, and happiness. Sky lanterns are often gifted to newlyweds or couples without children to pass on blessings. At festivals around the world, friends and families come together to share personal wishes, dreams, and goals. The floating of sky lanterns can be a power experience as it could be commemoration or celebration. Either way, it’s a breathtaking and unforgettable scene to behold.
Yi Peng Lantern Festival (Thailand): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFwrS7UtACw
RISE Lantern Festival (Las Vegas): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFcGvmFtR-s
(shared by the Diversity Committee, Department of Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services)