🏮 Lantern Festival
The first full-moon night of the lunar year, centered on lantern fairs, riddles, sweet dumplings, night parades, and regional light traditions.
Open in the 3D map- China · Beijing Lantern Festival · Beijing
- China · Nanjing Qinhuai Lantern Festival · Jiangsu
- China · Zigong Lantern Festival · Sichuan
- China · Fujian Lantern Processions · Fujian
- Taiwan · Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival · New Taipei
- China · Baoding Lantern Festival · Hebei
- China · Jilin Lantern Festival · Jilin
- China · Southern Shandong Lantern Festival · Shandong
- China · Shanghai Yuyuan Lantern Festival · Shanghai
- China · Tianjin Lantern Festival · Tianjin
- Japan · Namahage Sedo Festival · Akita
- Japan · Kobe Luminarie · Hyogo
Traditions and customs
- lanterns
- lantern riddles
- visiting temple fairs
- lanterns flowers viewing
- lanterns river
- lanterns viewing
- lanterns procession
- welcoming deities
Food and symbols
- yuanxiao
- candied hawthorn
- local festival food
- flowers
- noodles
- eating
- tangyuan
- cake
When it is celebrated
Lantern Festival timing: Fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It usually falls in February or March.
Shared roots and regional differences
Shared roots: blessing, festival street food, folk performance, lantern procession, lighting prayers, night garden visits, procession drumming, sweets
China regional differences
- Beijing Lantern Festival (China · Beijing): lanterns, lantern riddles, yuanxiao, candied hawthorn, yangge dance, drums temple fair
- Nanjing Qinhuai Lantern Festival (China · Jiangsu): lanterns river, lanterns, yuanxiao, river, procession
- Zigong Lantern Festival (China · Sichuan): lanterns, lanterns procession, noodles, eating, drums, procession
- Fujian Lantern Processions (China · Fujian): lanterns, welcoming deities, tangyuan, cake, nanyin music
- Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (Taiwan · New Taipei): lanterns, prayer, tangyuan, mountain
- Baoding Lantern Festival (China · Hebei): lanterns viewing, lantern riddles, yuanxiao, fire, river, gongs and drums
Cross-cultural versions
- Namahage Sedo Festival (Japan · Akita): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Kobe Luminarie (Japan · Hyogo): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Oto Festival (Japan · Wakayama): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Tokushima Castle Town Light Festival (Japan · Tokushima): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
Lantern Festival
Lantern Festival matters because it turns light, night procession, and shared seasonal symbols into a visible cultural system of time, place, family, and public ritual.
Customs
- lanterns
- lantern riddles
- visiting temple fairs
- lanterns flowers viewing
- lanterns river
- lanterns viewing
- lanterns procession
- welcoming deities
Food
- yuanxiao
- candied hawthorn
- local festival food
- flowers
- noodles
- eating
- tangyuan
- cake
Music / Dance
- yangge dance
- drums temple fair
- river
- procession
- drums
- nanyin music
- dance
- mountain
FAQ
What is Lantern Festival?
The first full-moon night of the lunar year, centered on lantern fairs, riddles, sweet dumplings, night parades, and regional light traditions.
When is Lantern Festival celebrated?
Lantern Festival timing: Fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It usually falls in February or March.
What traditions are associated with Lantern Festival?
Common traditions include lanterns, lantern riddles, visiting temple fairs, lanterns flowers viewing, lanterns river, lanterns viewing.