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It’s the time of year to celebrate the return of spring and illuminate life with majestic lanterns created by talented lantern-makers. Every year, visitors travel to witness the incredible lanterns, acrobats, live entertainment, and everything else these events have to offer. Many bring their family while others come and pray for their family to begin. Before you rush off to witness the world’s best lantern-makers show off their skills, here’s everything you should know about the History of the Festival
The annual Lantern Light Festival has been a renowned tradition for over 2,000 years. After Emperor?Han Mingdi heard about monks showing respect for Buddha by lighting lanterns in temples on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, he ordered all households, royal palaces, and temples light lanterns in the evening. It continues to begin on the fifteenth and ends the Chinese New Year period. This ancient Chinese celebration now marks the return of Spring and has become one of their most important celebrations. These lights are a symbolic representation of illuminating the future and family reunions. In China, the tradition lives on. The customs and attractions vary by region, but the most important of those are tiger dancing, lantern riddles, and eating tangyuan.
Attractions
The visitors come for the lanterns and stay for the entire celebration. If you’re hungry, you’ll be happy to know there’s a variety of food available along with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. As for the activities, kids will be able to enjoy mining for emeralds, playing mini-golf, bouncing on inflatables, riding dragons and dinosaurs, and more. For extra entertainment, Chinese acrobatic performances take place as you check out the lanterns handcrafted by artisans to look like architectures, creatures, holiday traditions, and mythical stories. At the end of the night, visitors can watch the sky light up with colorful fireworks.
Family Friendly
In ancient China families held the belief that by lighting more lanterns, they would be brought more children. Family is still at the root of the tradition today. Lantern light festivals are great events that the whole family can enjoy. Children often enjoy trying to solve the puzzles on the lanterns so that they can win prizes. Traditional food like yuan xiao ?and cultural performances such as dragon dances are fun for all ages to enjoy. Before Chinese New Year ends, it is tradition for the family to unite and enjoy the festivities and fireworks together. While the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival is held in China every year, it is still possible to experience this cultural tradition in the United States. Cities across the country host these festivals for families to enjoy time together experiencing this great Chinese tradition.
Other Things You Should Know
Lantern light festival is a family celebration all ages can enjoy. However, there are things that must be kept in mind when visiting this outdoor event. While most think of lanterns being in the sky, these ones are stuck firmly in the ground for safety reasons. This provides a closer look at the artisan’s work but be careful not to touch and stay behind the ropes. Being outside, the terrain can be difficult and there are no wheelchairs provided by the festival. If you or a loved one have a disability, it may be best to find which location will be best for you. One final thing, smoking of any kind is not permitted and that includes vaping.
From the dates and locations to the attractions and history, there’s everything you should know about?a?lantern lights festival. No matter where you attend, you can now tell others about where it all began and how it’s traditionally celebrated, while you enjoy the popular attractions the festival has to offer.
