The Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month every year, is the last important festival in the Spring Festival customs of China. The first lunar month is called the yuan month of the lunar calendar, and the ancients called "night" as "xiao". The 15th day of the first lunar month is the first full moon night of the year, so it is called the "Lantern Festival", also known as the Shangyuan Festival, Xiao Zhengyue, and Yuanxi.

As the finale of the Chinese New Year customs, the Lantern Festival has always been characterized by the word "lively" since ancient times. On the night with a bright moon hanging high in the sky, people light up tens of thousands of colorful lanterns, go out to admire the moon, set off fireworks, enjoy lantern riddles, eat yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls) together, gather their families to celebrate the festival, and have a happy time.

Moon Appreciation

As the saying goes, "The moon on the 15th day is roundest on the 16th day," but this year, the Lantern Festival falls on the day when the moon is at its fullest. Therefore, during the festival, everyone can enjoy a perfect full moon. However, this year's Lantern Festival coincides with the "smallest full moon of the year," which is the closest to the apogee among all the full moon days this year. This is a rare phenomenon that occurs only once in decades.

Eating Yuanxiao (Sweet Dumplings)

In the south, yuanxiao refers to tangyuan (sweet dumplings). Eating yuanxiao is one of the main customs of the Lantern Festival. On this day, every household will cook a bowl of hot tangyuan, symbolizing a full moon, a reunion of people, and happiness. Aumate Technology has also warmly prepared a delicious serving of tangyuan for everyone to celebrate the reunion of Aumate's family members after the Spring Festival.

Admiring Lantern Displays and Releasing Sky Lanterns

Every year, the 15th day of the first lunar month marks the climax of lantern displays and fireworks. All kinds of lanterns are hung in the streets and alleys. From the poem "The moonlit lamp hills fill the capital, and the fragrant carriages and precious umbrellas crowd the thoroughfares," we can glimpse the grand spectacle of lantern lighting during the Lantern Festival in ancient times. Today, during the Lantern Festival, we can still witness the breathtaking scene described as "the lanterns seem to connect with the stars in the sky, hanging by the buildings like moons suspended in the air."

"Releasing sky lanterns" is a ceremony that people celebrate with, so sky lanterns are also known as "blessing lanterns" or "peace lanterns." Over time, it has gradually evolved into a folk activity for praying and making wishes to the heavens. The sky lanterns are filled with various prayers and wishes from the heart, hoping that they can ascend to the heavens and bring people boundless hope and light.

Dragon Dance with Lanterns

Since ancient times, China has respected the dragon and regarded it as a symbol of good luck. People perform dragon dance with lanterns to pray to God for His blessing, hoping for favorable weather and bumper crops. When the long dragon body undulates and flips, with the lanterns on the dragon body flickering and sparkling, the scene is magnificent and spectacular.

Iron Flower Performance

The Iron Flower performance is a large-scale traditional folk firework, originating in the Northern Song Dynasty, flourishing in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and has a history of over a thousand years. It is one of the national-level intangible cultural heritages. The color of the "iron flower" is golden yellow, and its shape is like fireworks scattering, providing a powerful visual feast, which can be described as a tree of fire and silver flowers. In folk culture, the Iron Flower performance is believed to drive away ghosts and evil spirits. The people hope to dispel negative energy by watching the Iron Flower performance.

The arrival of the Lantern Festival signifies the conclusion of the Spring Festival celebrations for the entire year of 2024, bringing life back to its serene and routine state. As we embark on the journey of 2024, Allmerit, along with every Allmerit member, will continue with even greater enthusiasm and determination to embrace the future!