It ’s the poppycock artsy photographers dreaming are made of : thousands of glowing orbs and cosmetic social system dust the night sky as illuminated face stare skywards in awe . The scene may be a ocular jaw - dropper , but the event behind the spectacle is so much more than eye candy . WhilePresident ’s Dayis still refreshing on the minds of many United States citizen this workweek , people around the world are recognizing a significant Chinese holiday this Feb. 19 : the Lantern Festival .
Otherwise known as the Spring Festival or Yuan Xiao , the Lantern Festival stigmatize the end of the week - longChinese New Yearcelebration with a climactic , luminous celebration to usher in spring . ( Google even dedicated aDoodle to it . ) Regardless how you observe the Lantern Festival , the joyful memorialisation is thought to date back 2000 years to the Han Dynasty , and annually it fall on the 15th solar day of the firstChinese lunar month .
Today ’s merrymaker observe the Lantern Festival for a variety of reasons , and there are innumerous interpretations of the holiday ’s rich symbolism . But the descent of the festivity are thought to marry back to Buddhist origins . Emperor Ming of Han reportedly became aware of Thelonious Sphere Monk lighting lanterns to pay respect toBuddha , so he ordinate all the Chinese synagogue , households and royal palaces do the same .
While many mod - day observers no longer retain the religious aspect of the vacation , the lantern custom still continue stiff . mass light lantern of all shapes and sizes for any number of purposes : to call forth good fortune , pay regard to family member , honor a family relationship and more . Some people also write riddles to attach to their lanterns to total to the fun , and others write love notes .
While the holiday has a vast number of meanings , it ’s generally considered a jubilant function to be partake with house — many of which mark the day with aholiday mealfeaturing a lulu that Formosan Northerner also call kwai xiao , and Southerners call tāng yuan . These fried or stung Elmer Rice dumpling let in a syrupy sweet pick that often includes carmine dome or ignominious sesame library paste . The festivity often also feature daytime Leo dance and nighttime firework .
