#CHINESE LANTERN PARADE FULL#

From there it developed into a folk custom. As a result, he ordered all households, temples and the imperial palace to light lanterns on that evening. Emperor Ming, an advocate of Buddhism, noticed Buddhist monks would light lanterns in temples on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. However, its roots trace back more than 2,000 years and is popularly linked to the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han dynasty. There are several beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival. In London, the Magical Lantern Festival is held annually. Lantern Festivals have also become popular in Western countries, such as the Water Lantern Festival held in multiple locations in the United States. It should not be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival which is sometimes also known as the 'Lantern Festival' in locations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The festival acts as an Uposatha day on the Chinese calendar. The lanterns are almost always red to symbolize good fortune. The lanterns can symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and getting new ones, which they will let go of the next year. For example, lanterns are now often made in the shape of animals. In modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs. In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, and only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones. ĭuring the Lantern Festival, children go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns ( traditional Chinese: 猜燈謎 simplified Chinese: 猜灯谜 pinyin: cāidēngmí). As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance. Usually falling in February or early March on the Gregorian calendar, it marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.

#CHINESE LANTERN PARADE FULL#

The Lantern Festival ( traditional Chinese: 元宵節 simplified Chinese: 元宵节 pinyin: Yuánxiāo jié), also called Shangyuan Festival ( traditional Chinese: 上元節 simplified Chinese: 上元节 pinyin: Shàngyuán jié), is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, during the full moon. Statues of mother and daughter celebrating the Lantern Festival. Magha Puja (in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos) Yuánxiāo jié ( 元宵節) / Shàngyuán jié ( 上元節)Ĭhotrul Duchen (in Tibet Province of China)

Lantern Festival celebrated in Tainan at night

Chinese lantern parade