What is the festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month? What are the customs on the 15th day of the first lunar month?

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the first full-moon night of the year, so it is called the Lantern Festival. So what festival is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month? What are the customs? Let’s take a look together below!

What festival is on the 15th day of the first lunar month?

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival;

The first month of the lunar year is also called the Yuan Month in Chinese culture. Because the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the first full-moon night of the year, and the night was called Xiao in ancient times, the name "Lantern Festival" came into being. The Lantern Festival in the traditional sense was gradually established after the Han and Wei dynasties. Initially, the Lantern Festival was regarded as a festival to worship gods. During the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced to the East and became very prosperous. Both common people and some court officials lit lanterns to worship Buddha on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month. From then on, the custom of playing with lanterns on the Lantern Festival was gradually passed down.

Nowadays, eating Yuanxiao during the Lantern Festival has become a common custom. According to historical records, this kind of food has been passed down from the Song Dynasty. In addition to the customs of admiring lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, releasing sky lanterns, and eating Yuanxiao, some areas in my country also have folk performances such as land boat racing, dragon lantern performances, and Taiping drum performances during the Lantern Festival.

What are the customs of the Lantern Festival?

1. Eat Yuanxiao

Eating Yuanxiao is also called eating tangyuan. Yuanxiao is tangyuan. Their cooking methods and ingredients vary, but the meaning of eating Yuanxiao is the same, representing reunion and harmony, and a better and better life.

2. Watch the lanterns

Watching lanterns is a traditional festival custom of the Lantern Festival. In ancient times, cities and countryside were decorated with lanterns everywhere, creating an unprecedented grand occasion. At that time, no matter royal family members or common people, everyone can break the routine and go out for fun. Viewing lanterns during the Lantern Festival is an opportunity for socializing. Unmarried men and women can also look for their partners while viewing the lanterns.

3. Guess lantern riddles

Lantern riddles are a kind of word game derived from the Lantern Festival, also called lantern tigers. The riddles are posted on lanterns for people to guess. The answers mostly focus on the meaning of the words. There are 24 riddle grids, and commonly used ones include rolling curtains, swings, and praying for phoenixes. It has formed a unique folk culture of the Lantern Festival.