🏮 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 · Sendai Pageant of Starlight · Miyagi
- Japan · Akita Kanto Festival · Akita
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 is usually organized around Fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Month: Feb
Shared roots and regional differences
Shared roots: blessing, festival street food, folk performance, lantern procession, lighting prayers, night garden visits, procession drumming, sweets
Japan regional differences
- Sendai Pageant of Starlight (Japan · Miyagi): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Akita Kanto Festival (Japan · Akita): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Namahage Sedo Festival (Japan · Akita): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival (Japan · Fukushima): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Nikko Toshogu Spring Grand Festival (Japan · Tochigi): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
- Kanazawa Castle Cherry Blossom Light-Up (Japan · Ishikawa): lighting prayers, night garden visits, festival street food, sweets, procession drumming, folk performance
Cross-cultural versions
- 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
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 is usually organized around Fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Month: Feb.
What traditions are associated with Lantern Festival?
Common traditions include lanterns, lantern riddles, visiting temple fairs, lanterns flowers viewing, lanterns river, lanterns viewing.