Let us explore the evolution of the lantern festival that is seen during celebrations in the Chinese New Year.
One of the vital sign of the Chinese New Year is the lantern. During the time of New Year, there is a festival celebrated known as the Chinese lantern festival. The Chinese people refer it to as Yuan Xiao festival. The word Yuan comes from the starting month in a lunar year and the second comes from the word that is referred to by the Chinese people as the night.
The exact timing of the celebration of the lantern festival is after the fifteenth day of entering into the New Year when the full moon is observed for the first time. The environment becomes happy as the full moon gleams in the blue sky and huge groups of Chinese people aggregate at the festival location and hold up colorful lanterns, completely lighting up the whole area.
Chinese lanterns are very intricately designed. These items are not simple lighting objects but often have interesting puzzles made on them that might completely mesmerize you. Also rice balls are shared and eaten during this lantern festival with families and friends to mark the merry-making festival.
The source of the lantern tradition
There are many Chinese traditions that are performed by the Chinese people and there are a lot of legendary stories behind the Lantern New Year festival. Apparently, the lord known as Taiyi was worshiped during this festival and he was the king of the heavens in ancient history. He had
The fortune of the human race was believed to be under the control of Taiyi, the lord of heaven. He had the power of inflicting natural disasters or medical epidemics to impose any penance on the humans. This tradition was initiated by the emperor Qinshihuang who held this ceremony of the lantern festival to pacifythe lord. This was done solely so that he wouldn’t create any natural calamities.
With time the ceremony gained money and was highly patronized during the Han dynasty. In fact it was during the rule of the emperor Wudi that the event became one of the most important ceremonies in China which would go on for the entire night.
However, the Taoists had something else to contribute to this legend and they believed that the tradition became popular under their influence. Apparently, the Taoist deity Tianguan had the responsibility of good fortune of the Chinese people and had a strong attraction towards Chinese entertainment. In order to please him, they indulged in merry-making and celebrating on the streets and performing.
There is yet another tell story about the origins of the lantern festival that give the acknowledgment of the discovery to Emperor Mingdi. Under this story the emperor was influenced by Buddhism and a dream that he had which eventually led him to select the 15th day of the Chinese New Year as a day of lighting lanterns.
The lantern festival is one of the special events held as a part of the Chinese New Year celebrations no matter which part of the legend is genuine. These lanterns are interestingly designed with unique Chinese motifs.
Chinese paper lanterns are enjoyable and not difficult to make. If you would like to read further on other Chinese new year traditions follow the hyperlinks.