The Lantern Festival (元宵节) is one of the most celebrated traditional festivals in China, marking the 2-week grand finale of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Held on the 15th day of the first lunar month, this special occasion signifies the first full moon of the new year, a symbol of brightness, unity, and new beginnings. It is also known as a day of reunion (团圆), bringing families and friends together in a joyous celebration filled with lights, laughter, and traditions passed down through generations.
The Lively Atmosphere of the Lantern Festival
As dusk falls, streets and parks across China transform into breathtaking scenes of glowing lanterns, illuminating the night with dazzling colors and intricate designs. The air is filled with excitement as people gather to participate in the various traditional customs associated with this festival. Some of the most popular activities include:
Releasing sky lanterns (放天灯) – People write their wishes on lanterns and release them into the sky, symbolizing hope for a bright future.
Admiring lantern displays (观赏灯笼) – Elaborate lanterns, sometimes shaped like animals, mythical creatures, or historical figures, decorate streets and temples.
Having a reunion meal (吃团圆饭) – Families and friends gather for a special meal to celebrate togetherness and prosperity.
Eating Yuanxiao/Tangyuan (吃元宵/汤圆) – These delicious glutinous rice balls symbolize family unity and are a must-eat delicacy during the festival.
Guessing lantern riddles (猜灯谜) – Perhaps the most intriguing and fun part of the festival, where people challenge themselves with witty and poetic Chinese character puzzles.
The Fun of Lantern Riddles: Playing with Chinese Characters
These riddles play on the structure, meaning, and pronunciation of Chinese characters, offering an entertaining yet educational way to appreciate the beauty of the language. Here are some examples:
Riddle 1: A plant that transforms into a beauty – What’s the character?
Answer | Breakdown |
花 (huā) - flower | 艹 (plant radical) + 化 (to change) = 花 (flower) |
Riddle 2: The tongue works with speech to create spoken words – What’s the character?
Answer | Breakdown |
话 (huà) - words | 讠(speech radical) + 舌 (tongue) = 话 (words) |
Riddle 3: The sun wishes to date the moon – What’s the character?
Answer | Breakdown |
明 (míng) - bright | 日 (sun) + 月 (moon) = 明 (bright) |
Riddle 4: Three people go out to enjoy the sun – What’s the character?
Answer | Breakdown |
春 (chūn) - spring | 三 (three) + 人 (people) + 日 (sun) = 春 (spring) |
These riddles illustrate how Chinese characters are composed of meaningful components, making the language both logical and poetic. Understanding this system is key to mastering Chinese writing, which is why my latest book series, 300 Essential Chinese Characters Workbook Series, aims to help learners build a strong foundation by exploring radicals, strokes, and word formation in an engaging way. You will learn the detailed composition of Chinese characters, master the 150 most common radicals, and develop the ability to write your first 300 Chinese characters.
The Story Behind Yuanxiao and the Lantern Festival
The word 元宵-Yuan Xiao in the festival’s name refers to the traditional delicacy Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Its round shape symbolizes unity and completeness, reinforcing the festival’s theme of reunion.
A well-known legend traces the origin of Yuan Xiao(元宵) back to the Han Dynasty, involving the clever court official Dongfang Shuo (东方朔) and a homesick palace maid named Yuanxiao (元宵). In an act of compassion, Dongfang Shuo devised a plan to reunite Yuanxiao with her family. He convinced the emperor to hold a grand lantern festival in the capital city, instructing people to hang lanterns bearing Yuanxiao’s name while distributing hundreds of bowls of glutinous rice balls to the public. Amidst the festive crowd, Yuanxiao’s parents were able to find her, leading to an emotional reunion. This heartwarming tale gave rise to the celebrating the Lantern Festival with lantern displays as well as the tradition of eating Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) in the name of the maid Yuan Xiao.
I’m thrilled to share that this story will be featured in my upcoming book, Chinese Stories for Language Learners: Elementary Volume 2! This year, I will be expanding my Chinese Stories Series from Elementary to Advanced, catering to readers who love Chinese folktales, idioms, proverbs, and extensive reading on both ancient and modern China. So stay tuned!
A Festival of Love and Romance
Beyond family reunions, the Lantern Festival was historically also a day for romance. In ancient China, strict societal rules often limited interactions between unmarried men and women. However, during the Lantern Festival, young people were allowed to step outside and admire the lanterns freely, creating opportunities for chance encounters and budding romances. As a result, some of the most famous love poems were written on this day, such as the one below:
众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首，那人却在，灯火阑珊处。
Zhòng lǐ xún tā qiānbǎidù, mòrán huíshǒu, nà rén què zài, dēnghuǒ lánshān chù
Searching for him thousands of times in the crowd, suddenly turning around,
I find him there, where the lanterns are dim and sparse.
— Xin Qiji (1140–1207 A.D.), Song Dynasty poet
Green Jade Table: Lantern Festival Night
Wishing You Joy, Peace, and Reunion
The Lantern Festival is a time for celebration, reflection, and hope for a prosperous year ahead. Whether you are enjoying Tangyuan with family, admiring the glowing lanterns, or challenging yourself with riddles, may this year’s Lantern Festival bring you happiness, unity, and bright new beginnings!
Happy Lantern Festival! Wishing you joy and a wonderful reunion!
元宵节快乐！愿你欢乐满满, 团团圆圆！
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