- The Lantern Festival (元宵节, 위안샤오지에) falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month and marks the end of the 설날 축하.
- In 2026, the Lantern Festival falls on Tuesday, March 3 — the first full moon of the new lunar year.
- Its origins reach back roughly 2,000 years to the Han dynasty, with both Buddhist and folk-legend explanations.
- The most popular traditions are viewing lantern displays, guessing lantern riddles, and eating sweet rice balls called 당원 (달콤한 만두).
- It is not an official public holiday in mainland China, so most people do not get the day off.
The Lantern Festival (元宵节, 위안샤오지에) is the holiday that traditionally closes the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) season. Falling on the first full moon of the lunar year, it fills cities with glowing lantern displays and the sweet, chewy rice balls known as 당원.
This guide explains when the Lantern Festival is celebrated, where it came from, and how people mark it today. If you ever get the chance to 중국에서 중국어 배우기, it is also one of the most rewarding holidays to experience in person.
For pronunciation help with the Chinese terms below, see CLI's 오디오 병음 차트 or our beginner guide to 병음이란 무엇인가.
01 What is the Lantern Festival? (元宵节)
The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the 중국 전통 음력 달력, which usually falls in February or early March. Because the date follows the lunar calendar, it shifts against the Gregorian calendar each year.
In 2026, the Lantern Festival falls on 화요일 월 3. It lands on February 20 in 2027 and February 9 in 2028.
The holiday marks the end of the roughly 15-day 설날 celebrations. It also celebrates the first full moon of the new lunar year, a symbol of reunion and the return of spring.
02 The history and origins of the Lantern Festival
등불 축제 행사는 약 2,000년 전에 시작되었습니다. 한 왕조 (202 BCE–220 CE). The holiday's exact origins are unclear, and several different stories are told to explain how it began.
We've outlined two of the most important origin stories below.
Origin story 1: A Buddhist celebration
One account traces the festival to the reign of Emperor Ming of Han (58–75 CE), a time when Buddhism was gaining popularity in China. After learning that Buddhist monks lit lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month, Emperor Ming decreed that imperial palaces and households should do the same.
This practice is said to live on as today's Lantern Festival.
Origin story 2: Tricking the Jade Emperor
Another legend involves the Jade Emperor, whose favorite crane was killed by some villagers. Enraged, he planned to burn down their village on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
When his daughter learned of the plan, she felt sorry for the villagers and warned them. On her advice, they hung red lanterns, lit fires, and set off firecrackers to make it look as though the village was already ablaze.
The trick worked, and the village was spared. Residents have lit firecrackers and hung red lanterns every year since to commemorate the event.
How the Lantern Festival evolved through the dynasties
However it began, the Lantern Festival soon grew into a beloved holiday across China. Thanks to China's cultural influence, it spread to neighboring countries such as Korea and Japan.
Celebrations grew longer over the centuries. During the 당나라 (618–907 CE), festivities lasted three days.
They stretched to five days under the 송나라 (960–1279 CE). During the 명나라 (1368–1644 CE), some celebrations ran a full 10 days.
03 Is the Lantern Festival the original Chinese Valentine's Day?
Although it isn't the case today, the Lantern Festival was once closely tied to romance. Some consider it the original Chinese Valentine's Day — a title now usually given to the 치시 축제.
In ancient times, strict curfews kept people indoors after dark. Because of 전통적인 성 규범, women were generally expected to stay home regardless.
During the Lantern Festival, however, curfews were lifted so people could go out to view the lanterns. Women were also free to leave the house, giving people of different genders a rare chance to mingle.
This romantic side of the festival appears in the plots of many 중국 오페라, as well as in art and literature from the Song and Ming dynasties.
04 The Lantern Festival today: Is it a public holiday?
The Lantern Festival is still widely celebrated, but it is not one of the official 공휴일 recognized in mainland China. As a result, people in China don't usually get a day off school or work for it.
Lantern festivals have been popular across Asia for centuries. More recently, Chinese-style lantern festivals have begun appearing in Western countries, including the United States.
05 Lantern Festival traditions and activities
Although romance is no longer a central theme, the Lantern Festival is still celebrated with a range of festive activities. Here are the most popular ones.
등불 전시 관람
As the name suggests, the heart of the festival is viewing grand displays of 중국 제등 (칸델라, 댕글롱). Many people picture the round, red, basketball-sized lanterns seen outside Chinese restaurants, but festival displays are often far more elaborate.
Some installations are enormous, with the largest reaching over 65 feet (20 meters) tall and 330 feet (100 meters) long. Built in many colors and shapes, they depict animals, mythological figures, giant flowers, trees, and palaces.
Dragon-themed lanterns often draw on traditional imagery of 중국 용.
Lanterns were once made of paper, silk, bamboo, glass, or jade and lit with candles. Today, most are fabric stretched over wire frames and lit with thousands of LED lights.
Iconic floating sky lanterns were once popular, but they are now considered a fire hazard and have been 많은 곳에서 금지.
랜턴 수수께끼 추측하기
Guessing lantern riddles (랜턴 수수께끼를 맞춰보세요, 카이뎅미) dates back at least to the Song dynasty, when scholars wrote riddles on slips of paper and hung them from lanterns. Today's riddles are still tricky and often rely on complex wordplay, which is why they're sometimes called "lantern tigers" (灯虎, 등호).
Some riddles point to a 중국어 관용구 (관용구, 쳉이). Others point to a single character, where it helps to know 일반적인 한자 획순.
That same appreciation for the written word runs through 중국 서예, another tradition built on the beauty of characters.
Eating tangyuan (sweet rice balls)
Another favorite tradition is eating 당원 (달콤한 만두, 탕위안), sweet glutinous rice balls often filled with ingredients like black sesame paste. Their pronunciation echoes 재결합 (헛되이, "reunion"), and their round shape symbolizes family togetherness.
In southern China they're usually called 당원, while a similar northern version is known as 등불 축제 (원샤오). For more language-and-culture context on family, see our guide to 가족에 관한 중국 속담.
용과 사자의 춤 감상
In some regions, dragon and lion dances are performed during the festival. Dragon dances reflect long-standing beliefs about Chinese dragons as powerful, benevolent, and auspicious creatures.
Setting off fireworks
Fireworks (불꽃, 연화라고도 불꽃 놀이, 얀화) are common throughout the Spring Festival season. They're heard from the start of 설날 right through to the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the celebrations.
06 Where to experience the Lantern Festival
If you're in China during the Lantern Festival, set aside time to enjoy the celebrations. Most cities put on lantern displays, so you likely won't need to travel far.
Even outside China, you can often find Lantern Festival events in cities around the world. The festival pairs naturally with other lunar-calendar celebrations such as the 드래곤 보트 축제 그리고 한가을 축제, which also light up the night with lanterns.
Looking for a gift for Chinese friends during the holidays? See our 중국 선물 아이디어.
Want to build real language skills while you're at it? Start with some 기초 중국어 단어, or consider joining us to 몰입 학습을 통해 중국어를 배우세요 in 구이린.
07 Useful Lantern Festival vocabulary
The following terms will help you talk about the Lantern Festival in Chinese.
| 중국어 | 병음 | 의미 |
|---|---|---|
| 元宵节 | 랜턴 페스티벌 | |
| 灯笼 | 칸델라 | |
| 汤圆 | sweet glutinous rice balls (southern term) | |
| 元宵 | glutinous rice balls (northern term) | |
| 团圆 | 재결합 | |
| 猜灯谜 | guessing lantern riddles | |
| 灯虎 | "lantern tiger" (a lantern riddle) | |
| 成语 | 중국어 관용구 | |
| 烟火 | 불꽃 | |
| 烟花 | 불꽃 |
08 Lantern Festival FAQ
2026년 등불 축제는 언제인가요?
The Lantern Festival falls on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. It always lands on the 15th day of the first lunar month, so the Gregorian date changes each year.
What is the Lantern Festival celebrating?
It celebrates the first full moon of the new lunar year and marks the end of the Chinese New Year season. Themes of reunion, peace, and the return of spring are central to the holiday.
What food do you eat on the Lantern Festival?
The signature food is 당원 (달콤한 만두), sweet glutinous rice balls, known as 위안 샤오 (등불 축제) in northern China. Their round shape symbolizes family togetherness.
Is the Lantern Festival a public holiday in China?
No. Although it is widely celebrated, it is not an official public holiday in mainland China, so most people do not get the day off.
What is the difference between tangyuan and yuanxiao?
Both are glutinous rice balls, but they differ by region and method. In the south, 당원 are typically filled by hand, while in the north, 위안 샤오 are made by rolling the filling in dry rice flour.
09 마무리
The Lantern Festival is a bright, joyful close to the Chinese New Year season, blending ancient legend with living tradition. Whether you're guessing riddles, eating 당원, or simply admiring the lanterns, it offers a memorable window into Chinese culture.
해피 랜턴 페스티벌!
10 선택된 참조
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: overview of the Lantern Festival, its date, origins, and traditions. 소스 보기 →
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: history of the Han dynasty, the period in which the festival is thought to have begun. 소스 보기 →
- Note: Festival dates and public-holiday arrangements can vary by year and region. Always confirm specific dates with an official calendar before planning travel or events.