In which dynasty did Lantern Festival originate?

Lantern Festival originated in Han Dynasty.

The fifteenth day of the first month is the traditional Lantern Festival in China. It's natural to eat Yuanxiao and make a scene, watch lanterns, enjoy riddles and have a social fire. There are many folk legends about the origin of Lantern Festival in China, but Taiyuan County has its own unique legend.

According to legend, Liu Heng, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, lived in Jinyang City all the time. During this period, he was very interested in a kind of round stuffing food named Tangyuan, and introduced it to Jin Yanggong. After the death of Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, Zhu Lu conspired to make an insurrection, and Qiu and others put down the rebellion. In Beijing, he welcomed the king to the throne and became Emperor Wen of China.

That day happened to be the fifteenth day of the first month. Emperor Wen was happy and let his entourage and ladies-in-waiting go out to play at night and have a good time with the people. People decorate themselves with lanterns to celebrate. Until he returned to the palace late at night, Wendi felt hungry, so he asked the maid-in-waiting to cook a pot of Jinyang glutinous rice balls for everyone to share. After eating it, everyone said it was delicious and asked the name.

The Cultural Value of Lantern Festival

The traditional festivals and customs in China have adapted to the comprehensive needs of China people in material, spiritual, ethical and aesthetic aspects. In terms of material life, traditional festivals in China have many unique foods in different festivals. On the Lantern Festival, the whole family eats glutinous rice balls together. "Tangyuan" sounds similar to "reunion", symbolizing reunion and harmony.

The cultural value of Lantern Festival lies in that it is a national carnival, in which everyone participates and enjoys it. Because of the opening of the ancient Lantern Festival, the crowds are woven, and men and women meet, which is easy to produce love. For thousands of years, two of a kind's love story staged on the Lantern Festival is endless.