Lantern Festival

Fun Fact: There are actually two (kind of three) distinct traditions that have ceremonial lantern lighting components. Spoiler alert, none of them is the 4th of July.

In China, this ancient festival is the final event of the Chinese New Year celebrations, held on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The custom is guided by the principle that on the night of the first Full Moon in the New Year, Chinese people, wherever they live, must hang thousands of lights to show their appreciation to nature. This tradition is celebrated by spending time with family, adorning homes with lanterns, attending special events, and eating Yuanxiao (small dumplings with sweet or salty centers). It is customary for some to decorate the lanterns with gods, zodiac animals, or historical figures.

In Thailand, a nation rich in ancient traditions, Yi Peng is part of the festival of lights in Chiang Mai, which aims to show respect to Buddha. During the festival, thousands of candles are placed into lanterns, which are released into the sky, while making a wish. Tourists actually aren’t permitted to take part in the traditional ceremony, but there is a dedicated tourist lantern release two weeks after the Thai one. Coinciding with Yi Peng, is Loi Krathong, which is more broadly celebrated in Thailand and similarly sees the release of lanterns across the surface of a lake, to thank Phra Mae Khongkha, the Hindu goddess of water.

As the Chinese use a calendar dictated by the lunar cycle, the Lantern Festival always falls on a different date due to the natural variations of the lunar cycle. The festival is celebrated throughout the world. But, there are a few locations that are notable.

In China, the city of Chengdu hosts a great festival in its Cultural Park. The park transforms into a sea of lanterns, with an 88-foot high dragon pole at its center. Although the festival is officially only one day, Chengdu celebrates the festival for an entire month. The festival will include folk dancing, regional food, and performances from acrobats.

In Taiwan, the nation's official Lantern Festival is held in different cities each year. For 2015, Taichung City will host the extravagant festival at a 50-acre venue filled with glowing lanterns, as well as food, fun and music. This year's festival is expected to see over 5 million visitors.

THAI:

It occurs in the evening of the full moon on the twelfth month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar, generally sometime in November.

The largest release of lanterns occurs on the Lanna Dhutanka grounds in the city of Chiang Mai. About a week later, there is a second lantern release for tourists, who must pay a fee to attend the event. The fee effectively eliminates the large crowds and allows those attending a more comfortable experience. In addition to the official lantern releases, there are lanterns released throughout the city of Chiang Mai during the days preceding the festival and during the festival itself.