Introduction
In China, people celebrate the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first Chinese lunar month, the last day of the most important festival in China - Spring Festival (春节 Chūnjié /chwn-jyeah/ a.k.a. Matching with Gregorian calendar, this year’s Lantern Festival falls on February 22. The Lantern Festival is also the first full moon night in the Chinese calendar, representing the
return of spring and the family reunion. Lantern Festival Facts
Name of the Festival: 元宵節Yuánxiāojié /ywen-sshyaoww jyeah / the Lantern Festival
Date: The fifteenth day of the first month in Lunar calendar (22th February, 2016)
Celebration Custom: during the celebration of the last day for Spring Festival, people ward away the bad luck and welcoming the next year. People light up red lanterns, which symbolise happiness and fortune, family reunite. History: more than 2000 years
Greeting: Happy Lantern Festival! 元宵節快樂! Yuánxiāojié kuàilè! /ywen-sshyaoww-jyeah kwhy-luh
When did the Lantern Festival Begin? The lantern Festival can be traced back to 2000 years ago, the Eastern Han Dynasty (BC 25-220). According to the history, the fifteenth of the first month was the day when Emperor Ming of Han Dynasty suppressed the Disturbance of Lu. Therefore, every year on this night, the emperor leaves the palace as an incognito and celebrates together with those civilians. There is another version claims that Emperor Ming of Han Dynasty devout Buddhist. Once he noticed Buddhist monastics light lanterns in the temples on every fifteenth of the first lunar month, he then worship Buddha by imitating. His civilians followed and decorated streets, shops and their own house with lanterns, and Buddhist custom gradually became a grand festival ever since. How do Chinese celebrate the lantern festival? The customs of Lantern Festival includes, but not limited to, enjoying the lantern exhibitions and lion dances, solving lantern riddles, and sharing the taste of Tangyuan with family and friends. Light lanterns and enjoy the displaying of lanterns
Lighting the lanterns and enjoying the displaying are the core activities of the festival! During the festival, children design and carry their own lanterns while enjoying the night views on the street. Unique and beautiful lanterns in various sizes and figures can also be seen everywhere, such as households, shopping malls, parks and streets. Lantern symbolises good luck and fortune. People believed that lighting lanterns can ward away the bad luck and wishing good luck for the coming year. There is also a rumour states that the wish will come true if a married woman wishes for a child under hanging lanterns. Solving Lantern Riddles
The custom of solving lantern riddles emerge in the Song Dynasty (BC 960-1279), and it is one of the popular activities for all age groups during the festival. Lantern owner would put riddles on the note paper and hang it under lanterns. People can pull the riddle off and take it to the owner to check when they have an answer in mind, and the winner will receive a prize from the lantern owner. Lion Dances
The lion dance is one of the fascinating traditional folk dances in China. It can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms Period (BC 220–280). Back in the old days, people defined lion as a symbol of bravery and strength, and it can protect people from evil. The lion dance requires two highly-trained performers inside the lion suit. One acts as the head and forelegs, and the other one acts as the back and rear legs. Under the guidance of a choreographer, the "lion" dances to the beat of drum, gong, and cymbals. Sometimes they jump, roll, and other difficult movements such as walking on stilts. Sharing the taste of Tangyuan (Yuanxiao)
Sharing the taste of Tangyuan is an important custom of the Lantern Festival. Tangyuan (汤圆 tāngyuán /tung-ywen), as known as yuanxiao. These ball-shaped dumplings made of glutinous rice flour, with different fillings such as white sugar, brown sugar, sesame seeds, peanuts, walnuts, rose petals, bean paste, and jujube paste, or any combination of two or three ingredients. Yuanxiao can be boiled, fried, or steamed, and are customarily served in fermented rice soup, called tianjiu (甜酒 tián jiǔ /tyen-jyoh/ 'sweet liquor'). As tangyuan is pronounced similarly to tuanyuan (团圆 /twan-ywen/ 'group round'), which means all family members have dinner together. Chinese people believe that ball shape and bowls symbolize togetherness. Family members bless each other on the night by sharing TangYuan. E-Ticket Information
In the past, you would have to take great care of the paper ticket once you made the purchase. To make your life easier, we will send you an e-ticket number along with the confirmation of payment.
• You do not receive the ticket by post as we will send you the e-ticket via email. You can also find it on the “My Booking” in the phone application Tellaw
• You do not have to set a specific day visiting the festival. Off-peak ticket allows you to visit once on any day between Sunday to Thursday (excluding 7/2, 22/2); Prime ticket allows you to visit once at any time during the period of 5 February 2016 to 30 April.
• If you lose your printed e-ticket, you can find the e-ticket from the phone application “Tellaw”m and simply print another one.
• Please note that all tickets are not refundable.
