125 saved#1,800 of 6,224

Lantern Festival

A cultural observance on the 15th day of the first lunar month celebrating the first full moon of the lunar new year with lanterns symbolizing light dispelling darkness, featuring family reunion and traditional foods like yuanxiao and tangyuan.

Saturday

February 2027

Last updated February 26, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

Have an update or spot an error?

YEARLY DATELantern Festival (15th day 1st Chinese lunar month)

OBSERVED INChina

CATEGORYCulture

SUBCATEGORYAsian Heritage

ORIGIN

Historical Origin

FOUNDING ENTITY

Not documented

FIRST OBSERVED

206 BCE

HOW THE HOLIDAY CAME TO BE

The observance originated during the Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE), with practices tracing to Buddhist monks lighting lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Emperor Ming of Han ordered lanterns lit in palaces and temples to promote Buddhism, establishing it as a folk custom. No single legislative proclamation or exact founding year is documented.

News Archivevia britannica.com

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Step into the charm and magic of the Lantern Festival on February 24! Originating from China more than 2000 years ago, this mesmerizing event is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Bursting with enchanting colors, twinkling lights, and traditional dances, the Lantern Festival brings together communities under a sky filled with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of lanterns. It's a time for family reunions, shared stories, and making beautiful wishes for the year ahead. Feast your eyes on this vibrant spectacle as we illuminate the night in the most magical way possible! Come join us as we illuminate the night, and let's create magical moments together.

TIMELINE

Lantern Festival Timeline

Historical Beginnings

The origins of the Lantern Festival date back to the Han Dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD), where it was celebrated to bring good fortune and dispel darkness and evil.

Tang Dynasty Celebrations

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Emperor Xuanzong established the Lantern Festival as a formal celebration, with grandiose displays of lighted lanterns across the capital city.

Qing Dynasty Customs

Under the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), it became a tradition to write riddles on lanterns for festival goers to solve, thus introducing the custom of lantern riddles into the festivities.

Yaowang Lantern Dance

The Yaowang Lantern Dance, a popular folk dance performed with lion-shaped lanterns, began in rural Sichuan province in the late 1800s and has become a Lantern Festival tradition.

Recognition as Cultural Heritage

China's State Council listed the Lantern Festival as part of the country's first national list of intangible cultural heritage in 1990.

Global Celebrations

The Taipei Lantern Festival in 2015 witnessed over eight million visitors. Such global gatherings highlight the transformation of the Lantern Festival into a world-class event celebrating Chinese culture and tradition.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate Lantern Festival

Create and release your own lantern

Embrace the tradition of lantern making by developing your own! Use paper, bamboo, and candles to create a lantern that reflects your own style and wishes for the year ahead. Finally, join a lantern-release event or carefully release it in your own yard for a magical touch to your Lantern Festival.

ORGANIZE

Organize a Lantern walk in your neighborhood

Coordinating a Lantern Festival themed walk in your neighborhood is an exciting way to engage with your neighbors. Everyone can bring their lanterns and stroll around together, creating a beautiful spectacle of floating lights.

HOST

Host a Lantern making party

Invite your friends and family over for a get-together where you can all create your own unique lanterns. Handmade lanterns not only offer a creative escape but also add personal touch to the Festival celebration.

WATCH

Watch Lantern Festival parades

Lantern Festival often includes parades that feature dragon and lion dances, as well as fireworks. Participate or just watch, either way it’ll be a great experience.

INDULGE

Indulge in traditional Lantern Festival foods

Food is a big part of the Lantern Festival and spherical foods such as Tangyuan (rice balls) are traditionally served. Making and eating these treats can be an exciting way to connect with the culture and traditions of the festival.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why Lantern Festival is Important

Aesthetically Pleasing and Magical Atmosphere

The spectacle of the night sky, filled with lanterns of various colors and sizes, is truly captivating. As lanterns flood the atmosphere, it creates an enchanting and magical environment that leaves lasting memories. The essence of the festival is truly a sight to behold and an experience to cherish.

Brings Together Communities and Cultures

The Lantern Festival unites families, friends, and even entire neighborhoods under a beautiful display of lantern-lit skies. It's an opportunity to learn more about and appreciate a different culture while participating in its rich and vibrant traditions. Moreover, it creates a sense of unity and togetherness.

Fosters Creativity

The Lantern Festival encourages creativity and artistry – from crafting your own lanterns to designing patterns that will illuminate when lit. It is a great occasion for both adults and children to express their creativity, artistic abilities, and impart personal significance into their creations.

Related holidays

SAT

Feb 2026

Culture

Lantern Festival Taiwan

A cultural observance on the 15th day of the first lunar month celebrating the traditional Lantern Festival with large-scale lantern displays, sky lanterns, fireworks, and folk activities promoting good fortune and Taiwanese cultural heritage.

103Read

FRI

Sep 2026