Today is pretty much the “closing ceremony” for the Chinese New Year activities — it’s the Lantern Festival. People eat Yuanxiao (a rice ball stuffed with different fillings) and watch lanterns. It is the first significant feast after the Chinese New Year and it is regarded as the most recreational among all the Chinese festivals and a day for appreciating the bright full Moon and family reunions.
So how did the Lantern Festival come to be? As the story goes, the Jade Emperor (You Di,) became angered at a town for killing his goose. He planned to destroy the town with fire, but was thwarted by a fairy who advised the people to light lanterns across the town on the appointed day of destruction. The emperor, fooled by all the light, assumed the town was already engulfed in flames. The town was spared, and in gratitude the people continued to commemorate the event annually by carrying colorful lanterns throughout the town.
I’ve never been in China for the Lantern Festival, but I’ve seen some of the lanterns used — during the festival, they are in the street, in each house and store, but some are displayed (I guess) year round and their various shapes and types demonstrate traditional Chinese folklore.
Guessing riddles is regarded as an indispensable part of the Lantern Festival. People write all kinds of riddles on pieces of paper, and paste them on colorful lanterns to let visitors guess. If someone has an answer to a riddle, he can pull the paper to let organizers verify the answer. Gifts are presented to the people who get the right answers.
The holiday marks the first full Moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year festivities. The Lantern Festival aims to promote reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness. Seems like we could all use a few days like that about now….
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