China’s Lantern Festival: A custom steeped in legends
The Lantern Festival, also known as Yuan Xiao Festival, marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year. It is said that the Han dynasty began celebrating the Lantern Festival roughly 2,000 years ago (202 BCE-220 CE) although the exact origin of the festival is a little unclear. Interestingly, there are a few legends about the origins of this festival. Read on to know more.
What is the origin of the Lantern Festival?
According to a popular legend, the festival came into being during emperor Ming of Han's reign (58-75 CE). Buddhism was already gaining popularity in China at the time. After finding out that Buddhist monks would light up lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the emperor, an advocate of Buddhism, ordered royal palaces and individual houses to do the same. The practice of celebrating Lantern Festival is a continuation of this tradition. Another possible origin is referred to the commemoration of winter's waning darkness and the community's capacity to walk about at night with human-made light, namely lanterns. During the Han period, the event was associated with Ti Yin, the deity associated with North Star.
The Jade Emperor is another legend that is used to explain the origin of the Lantern Festival. The emperor’s beloved crane was allegedly killed by some villagers. So, on the 15th day of the first lunar month, he planned to avenge himself by burning down the village. When his daughter learned of her father's scheme, she felt sorry for the unfortunate villagers and forewarned them of what was to come. The villagers resolved to deceive the Jade Emperor into believing their village was already on fire in order to save themselves. They did this by hanging red lanterns throughout the village, letting off firecrackers and burning fires. As a result, the village was saved. Residents continued to shoot firecrackers and hang red lanterns to celebrate the event every year after that.
What is the significance of celebrating the Lantern Festival?
It is believed that the Lantern Festival honours the deceased ancestors on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. During the festival, homes are decorated with colourful lanterns, many of which have riddles written on them. If solved correctly, the participant gets a modest sum of money as a reward. The lanterns represent people letting go of the previous year and wishing for good fortune in the next year. Moreover, people do not follow any superstitions or taboos related to the Chinese New Year after the Lantern Festival and remove all sorts of decorations associated with the New Year.
What are the traditions associated with the Lantern Festival?
Enjoying lanterns, answering lantern riddles, eating tangyuan, and seeing lion/dragon dances are some of the most popular Yuan Xiao Festival traditions. Yuan Xiao, also known as tangyuan, are little rice balls that are filled with fruits and nuts and eaten throughout the festival. The round shape of the balls symbolises the family's wholeness and unity.