Introduction to Lantern Festival (in Chinese and English)

Lantern Festival is the 15th day of the first lunar month, symbolizing harmony and reunion. Eating Yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls) is a special tradition of the Lantern Festival, and it is also named after this food. Let's take a look at the English introduction about Lantern Festival.

English Introduction to Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival is on the fifth day of the sixth lunar month, usually in February or March of the solar calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD), it has become a festival of great significance. The important activity of this day is watching lanterns. Throughout the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), Buddhism prevailed in China. An emperor heard that Buddhist monks would watch the relics (the remains of Buddha's body after cremation) and light lanterns to worship Buddha on the fifth day of the sixth lunar month (1), so he ordered lanterns to be lit in palaces and temples on this day to show his respect for Buddha. Later, the Buddhist ceremony developed into a grand festival for ordinary people, and its influence expanded from the Central Plains to the whole of China.

To this day, the Lantern Festival is still held every year all over the country. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung on the street, attracting countless tourists. Children will wander around the street with homemade or bought lanterns, very excited. Solve riddles on the lanterns is an important part of this festival. The owner of the lantern writes the riddle on a piece of paper and then sticks it on the lantern. If tourists have answers to riddles, they can take out the paper and go to the owner of the lantern to check their answers. If they are right, they will get a small gift. This activity appeared in the Song Dynasty (960- 1279) when people were enjoying lanterns. Because riddles are interesting and full of wisdom, they have been welcomed by all walks of life.

People will eat Yuanxiao on this day, so it is also called "Lantern Festival". Yuanxiao has another name, Tangyuan. It is a small glutinous rice dumpling filled with rose petals, sesame seeds, red bean paste, jujube paste, walnut kernel, dried fruit, sugar and edible oil. Tangyuan can be boiled, fried and steamed. It tastes sweet and delicious. What's more, the pronunciation of glutinous rice balls in Chinese is similar to "reunion", which means reunion. So people eat moon cakes to symbolize family unity, harmony and happiness.

During the day of the festival, there will be performances such as dragon lantern dance, lion dance, dragon boat dance, yangko, walking on stilts and beating gongs and drums. At night, except for gorgeous lanterns, fireworks constitute a beautiful scenery. Most families will set off some fireworks during the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival. Some local governments even organize fireworks parties. On the first full moon night of the New Year, people will be intoxicated by the spectacular fireworks and the bright moon in the sky.

English Introduction of Lantern Festival (Chinese Translation)

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, just after the Spring Festival, the traditional festival Lantern Festival in China was ushered in. The main activity of the Lantern Festival is watching lights. During the reign of Emperor Han Ming, Ming Di advocated Buddhism. According to legend, on the fifteenth day of the first month, the monks watched the relics and lit lamps to worship Buddha, so they ordered the palaces and temples to light lamps to worship Buddha that night, so that all the gentry and ordinary people could hang lamps. Later, this Buddhist ceremonial festival gradually formed a grand folk festival. This festival has experienced the development process from the court to the people, and from the Central Plains to the whole country.

To this day, the custom of lighting lanterns on the Lantern Festival is still circulating all over China. On this day, all kinds of beautiful lanterns will be lit, and children will walk in the street with homemade lanterns, very happy. Solve riddles on the lanterns is also an important activity of the Lantern Festival. The owner of the lantern will write riddles on the lantern and hang them at the door. If anyone can guess, they will get a small gift. This activity originated in the Song Dynasty. Because riddles can stimulate wisdom and interest, they are very popular in all walks of life.

Folk custom of eating Yuanxiao on Lantern Festival. Yuanxiao is made of glutinous rice, which can be solid or stuffed. Filled with bean paste, sugar, hawthorn, various fruit materials and so on. You can cook, fry, steam and fry when you eat. At first, people called this kind of food "Floating Zi Yuan", and later they called it "Tangtuan" or "Tangyuan". These names are similar in pronunciation, meaning reunion, symbolizing family reunion, harmony and happiness. People also miss their departed relatives and place their best wishes on their future lives.

As time goes by, there are more and more activities for the Lantern Festival. During the day, there are traditional folk performances such as playing dragon lanterns, playing lions, walking on stilts, rowing dry boats and dancing yangko, and playing Taiping drums. In the evening, besides colorful lanterns, there are colorful fireworks. Most families will leave some fireworks for the Lantern Festival, and some local governments will hold fireworks exhibitions. When the first full moon night of the New Year comes in the grand fireworks show, people are intoxicated with the unforgettable fireworks and bright moon.