All about Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is a special celebration in Taoism that marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities. It is a time to honor ancestors, pray for good luck, and celebrate the coming of spring. During the Lantern Festival, people make beautiful lanterns in various shapes and colors. These lanterns are then hung up or paraded through the streets to light up the night sky.

One popular legend associated with the Lantern Festival is the story of Yuan Xiao, a beautiful maiden. According to the legend, Yuan Xiao's town was once plagued by a fierce monster that would come out on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to wreak havoc. To protect themselves, the townspeople devised a plan to light lanterns, set off firecrackers, and make loud noises to scare the monster away. Their plan worked, and Yuan Xiao became a hero.

Today, the Lantern Festival is celebrated with joy and excitement. Families come together to enjoy delicious food, watch colorful performances, and admire the beautiful lanterns. It is a time of happiness, unity, and hope for a bright future.

  1. Why is the Lantern Festival celebrated?
  2. What do people do during the Lantern Festival?
  3. Who is Yuan Xiao and why is she a hero?
  4. How do families celebrate the Lantern Festival today?
  5. Why do people make loud noises and set off firecrackers during the Lantern Festival?

Symbols and Traditions

The Lantern Festival is a special celebration in Taoism that marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities. During this festival, people celebrate by lighting and displaying beautiful lanterns. These lanterns symbolize hope, good fortune, and brightness for the year ahead.

One important tradition of the Lantern Festival is writing wishes on a piece of paper and attaching it to a lantern before releasing it into the sky. This is believed to bring good luck and make the wishes come true.

Another fun tradition is solving riddles written on lanterns. People try to solve the riddles as a way to challenge their minds and have fun with friends and family.

In addition to lanterns and riddles, the Lantern Festival also features dragon dances, lion dances, and delicious traditional foods like tangyuan (sweet rice balls).

Overall, the Lantern Festival is a joyful time for people to come together, celebrate the new year, and look forward to a bright and prosperous future.

  1. What does lighting and displaying lanterns symbolize during the Lantern Festival?
  2. Describe the tradition of writing wishes on a piece of paper and attaching it to a lantern.
  3. Why do people enjoy solving riddles written on lanterns during the festival?
  4. How do dragon dances and lion dances contribute to the Lantern Festival celebrations?
  5. Discuss the significance of tangyuan in the Lantern Festival.

My Family and Lantern Festival

Hi, I'm Olivia and I'm 8 years old. I love learning about different cultures and traditions, and one of my favorite celebrations is the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival is a special celebration in Taoism that marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities. During this festival, people celebrate by lighting and displaying beautiful lanterns. These lanterns symbolize hope, good fortune, and brightness for the year ahead.

One important tradition of the Lantern Festival is writing wishes on a piece of paper and attaching it to a lantern before releasing it into the sky. This is believed to bring good luck and make the wishes come true.

Another fun tradition is solving riddles written on lanterns. People try to solve the riddles as a way to challenge their minds and have fun with friends and family.

In addition to lanterns and riddles, the Lantern Festival also features dragon dances, lion dances, and delicious traditional foods like tangyuan (sweet rice balls).

Overall, the Lantern Festival is a joyful time for people to come together, celebrate the new year, and look forward to a bright and prosperous future.

  1. What is the significance of lanterns during the Lantern Festival?
  2. How do people believe writing wishes on a lantern can bring good luck?
  3. Why do people enjoy solving riddles on lanterns during the festival?
  4. Describe the traditional foods typically enjoyed during the Lantern Festival.
  5. Why is the Lantern Festival considered a joyful time for people?

Comparing Lantern Festival to another Festival

After learning all about Lantern Festival, is there another festival that you celebrate or that you know that is similar in any way? Make a project comparing the similarities and differences between this festival and Lantern Festivaland think about what symbols and traditions that are part of it. Think about the story of the festival, if it has one, where it is mainly celebrated - whether it is one country or all over the world. You can produce the project using any medium whether it's paper or on a laptop.

Slideshow - Lantern Festival
A full set of teaching plans for Lantern Festivalteaching.