香港元宵常有綵燈會，新界不少圍村保留「點燈」習俗，為過去一年出生的男丁在祠堂掛燈，因粵語「燈」與「丁」音近，取添丁之意；元宵在香港也被當作「中國情人節」。馬來西亞與新加坡的福建人稱元宵為「十五暝」，檳城等地有未婚女子把柑橘拋入海中祈求良緣的習俗。韓國稱為「정월대보름」，習俗包括清早咬碎堅果的「부럼」、吃五穀飯；日本則有「小正月」，現多在國曆1月15日前後，焚燒新年裝飾，吃紅豆粥。越南稱為「Tết Nguyên Tiêu」，民眾多到寺廟祈福。
香港元宵常有彩灯会，新界不少围村保留「点灯」习俗，为过去一年出生的男丁在祠堂挂灯，因粤语「灯」与「丁」音近，取添丁之意；元宵在香港也被当作「中国情人节」。马来西亚与新加坡的福建人称元宵为「十五暝」，槟城等地有未婚女子把柑橘抛入海中祈求良缘的习俗。韩国称为「정월대보름」，习俗包括清早咬碎坚果的「부럼」、吃五谷饭；日本则有「小正月」，现多在公历1月15日前后，焚烧新年装饰，吃红豆粥。越南称为「Tết Nguyên Tiêu」，民众多到寺庙祈福。
The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month brings the year's first full moon, lantern displays, riddles and sweet glutinous rice balls.
Lunar date
15th day of the 1st month
Usual dates
Feb 6–Mar 5
Date and Origins
The Lantern Festival, Yuanxiao (元宵), falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the first full moon of the new year. Yuan refers to the first month and xiao to night. Taoism calls the day Shangyuan (上元), when the Heavenly Official bestows blessings. Many people say New Year is not really over until Yuanxiao has passed.
Accounts of how the lantern custom began vary. One view links it to Han-dynasty night rites for the deity Taiyi; another credits the Buddhist practice of lighting lamps on this day, which spread after Buddhism reached China. By the Tang dynasty the capital lifted its curfew around the festival so people could stroll among the lanterns all night, and in the Song dynasty celebrations stretched to five days and lantern riddles appeared.
Customs
Viewing lanterns is the centrepiece. Traditional lanterns have bamboo frames covered in paper or silk, from revolving 'trotting horse' lanterns to zodiac animals, while modern festivals feature huge illuminated installations. Riddles are written on slips attached to lanterns, and anyone who solves one may claim a small prize.
In old northern China, women walked together on festival night to 'shed illnesses', crossing bridges and city gates in the belief it would ward off disease. In Taiwan a folk saying held that an unmarried woman who picked spring onions or vegetables that night would find a good husband. Dragon and lion dances, stilt walking and land boat performances add to the festivities.
Festive Foods
The signature food is a round glutinous rice ball, its shape symbolising family reunion. Northerners make yuanxiao by rolling cubes of filling repeatedly in rice flour, giving a firmer, slightly rough ball. Southerners make tangyuan by wrapping filling in a smooth dough. Sesame, peanut and red bean are classic fillings, and Taiwan and southern China also have savoury meat-filled versions served in broth with mushrooms and greens.
Regional Differences
Taiwan sums up its celebrations as 'sky lanterns in the north, beehive fireworks in the south, Handan in the east'. Wishes are written on sky lanterns released in Pingxi; Yanshui's barrage of rockets is said to date to a Qing-era epidemic, when residents paraded the deity Guan Yu to drive off disease; and in Taitung, a man representing the deity Lord Handan braves thrown firecrackers. The Taiwan Lantern Festival rotates among cities each year. Mainland China hosts large lantern fairs, and northern areas keep folk parades such as yangge dancing.
Hong Kong holds lantern carnivals, and some New Territories walled villages hang lanterns in ancestral halls for sons born in the past year, since 'lantern' and 'son' sound alike in Cantonese. The festival also serves as a Chinese Valentine's Day. In Penang and elsewhere in Malaysia and Singapore, Hokkien communities call it Chap Goh Mei, and single women toss mandarins into the sea hoping for a good match. Korea's Jeongwol Daeboreum features cracking nuts at dawn and five-grain rice, Japan's Koshōgatsu around 15 January involves burning New Year decorations and red bean porridge, and in Vietnam Tết Nguyên Tiêu is a popular day for temple visits.
Trivia
For many families, the end of Yuanxiao is when New Year decorations come down and holiday taboos lapse. Because young people in old times could go out freely on this night, classical poetry is full of lantern-lit encounters, one reason the day is now treated as a festival for couples.
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