The lantern festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival or the New Lunar Festival, is an ancient Chinese traditional festival celebrating the bright and colorful lights of nature on the second day of the new year. Usually falling on February or March on the Chinese lunar calendar, it marks the end of the old Chinese New Year festivities. In ancient times, farmers would hang lit lanterns made of rice paper and grass in their front yards to welcome and honor the new year. They also set up small shops selling trinkets and gifts, and offer dances and live performances.
The term "lantern festival" was first used in Chinandong, the name of an area in modern-day China. Today, the term is used to describe the entire period between the two Chinese New Year celebratory dates: February 14th to March 7th. For this reason, many people from foreign countries are unfamiliar with the phrase "Chinese New Year." The term, "Lantern Festival," is actually a misnomer, as the true meaning of the festival is not about the bright-colored lights of the lanterns, but about the ancient Chinese belief that the calendar is fixed by the movement of the heavenly stars.
Although most Americans are familiar with the Chinese Long March or Spring Festival, they are not aware that China's New Year, the lantern festival, has a long history. It is one of the most important religious events in the Chinese calendar and features extremely elaborate preparations and decorations. The New Year celebration traditionally starts two days before the full moon and is marked by several ceremonies and activities. Thousands of Chinese celebrate this long-awaited event in various shapes and sizes, using various colored lanterns made of paper and grass or grasses.
Chinese New Year - The Lantern Festival
The ancient times of China, when the lantern festival was established are unclear. Some historians date it back to the Western Han Dynasty roughly fifty years BC. The exact date is uncertain because the precise beginning of any event in history is often difficult to pinpoint. The exact nature and date of the lantern festival celebrations are also lost in translation due to widespread illiteracy at the time. In the southern part of China, however, the exact date and chronology are known. Regardless, the Chinese still commemorate the long history of their nation with these ancient times' traditions of lighting lanterns.
The Chinese who commemorate the ancient times of their nation with the lantern festival do so by honoring the revered Buddha. The most well-known and highly respected Buddhist emperor worshiped the Buddha and made the auspicious symbol of fire, called the Ba Gua, a part of his wardrobe. The emperor's advisors, in addition to the fire itself, adorned their bodies with the numerous colors of lanterns, which are considered to be an effective way to purify the soul. Because of this tradition, the country of China has been named after Buddha, for the longest time ever. Today, the phrase "Buddha is Coming" is shouted in unison by people of all ages and backgrounds during the Chinese New Year. Throughout the years, the festival continues to be celebrated with much vigor and joy, with firecrackers being blown everywhere, and colorful banners and fireworks being displayed.
One of the most significant festivals commemorating Buddha in China is the springtime lantern festival. This particular festival, which is one of the most important annual events in China, commemorates the return of the summer weather from winter, as well as the abundance of life that can be found in springtime. Many historians believe that the return of spring is one of the primary reasons for the existence of the lantern festival; in fact, the spring equinox is also known as the rebirth of Buddha. Since the inception of this particular festival in ancient times, the Chinese have always looked forward to the colorful and vibrant colors of the returning flowers and trees.
The Chinese government has long looked forward to the start of spring by preparing everything possible to celebrate and welcome the new year. The Chinese consider lanterns to be auspicious, and they are often seen everywhere at this time. In addition to lanterns, other popular decorations include new clothes, curtains, and the traditional Chinese dragon masks. The dragon masks are particularly significant and are often used in conjunction with other icons to fully recognize the spirits of good fortune and good luck, as well as the blessings that nature bestows upon mankind.
Chinese people also look forward to another lantern festival later in April. Known as the lantern festival of Ba Gua, the event is actually a month-long celebration that commemorates the appearance of the moon on the fifth day of spring. The festival celebrates the return of life into the earth, and the joy that the various Chinese herbs and plants have brought. Throughout the month of April, Chinese people light lanterns, douse their lamps with oil and send out lanterns to celebrate the coming of spring. A number of places in and around cities and towns throughout China are decorated with various Chinese lantern festival activities and displays. In addition to these outdoor lantern festival activities, Chinese people often hold various lantern themed celebrations inside the home itself, such as birthday bashes, dinner parties, and family reunions.
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