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After the death of Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, he usurped power, and others eradicated the forces of Lu and established himself as Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. Because the night of cutting off Lu's clan happened to be the fifteenth day of the first month, Wendi went out of the palace incognito on the fifteenth night of the first month every year after he took office. The first month is also called January, so Emperor Wendi designated the fifteenth day of the first month as the Lantern Festival.

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Lantern Festival customs

Lantern Festival is a traditional festival in China since ancient times. Lantern Festival viewing began when ancient people held torches in rural fields to drive away insects and wild animals, hoping to reduce pests and pray for a bumper harvest.

To this day, people in some areas in southwest China still make torches from reeds or branches on the 15th day of the first month, hold them high in groups and dance in fields or grain drying fields. It has been in full swing since the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties. Tens of thousands of people took part in the song and dance performances, from faint to dark. With the changes of society and times, the custom of Lantern Festival has changed greatly, but it is still a traditional folk festival in China.