2024 Lantern Festival illuminates celebrations worldwide!
Celebrations tend to be a fun time for everyone, regardless if someone is involved in the thing being celebrated or not, as just being around the festive air can bring one joy. One celebrated festival that you may or may not know about which you should keep an eye on from now on is the Lantern Festival.
Communities in China and all over the world tend to come together to celebrate the Lantern Festival, marking the end of the Lunar New Year festivities. This special day, falling on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar is filled with colorful lanterns, riddles, and prizes. Here is how this festival is celebrated in certain parts of the world:
How China celebrates the Lantern Festival
In China, cities like Beijing and Rizhao host lantern displays and traditional activities like lion and dragon dances. Unique folk art and special dishes, like sweet rice balls, are part of the celebrations. Fireworks and remote-controlled illuminated bird performances light up the skies.
How Asia is celebrating
In southeast Asia, places like Penang and Jakarta have their unique ways of celebrating the Lantern Festival. Festivals with fire juggling, dragon dances, and traditional dishes are part of the festivities. Some communities in Indonesia practice rituals like piercing the face with needles, believing doing so wards off evil spirits.
The Lantern Festival in Canada
Canada’s Chinese diaspora celebrates with events like Vancouver’s LunarFest and Toronto’s Chinatown festivities. Art exhibits, film screenings, and special deals at restaurants bring the community together.
Celebrations in the U.K.
In the U.K., communities in London, Southampton, and Birmingham also take part in Lantern Festival celebrations. From food crawls to special events at Chinese restaurants, people across the country honor this important day.
The Lantern Festival truly brings people together from all corners of the globe to celebrate, appreciate traditions, and create lasting memories.
