Feb 11, 2017
Lantern Festival 2017 (China, Hong Kong)
This Doodle’s Key Themes
The Lantern Festival arrives on the first full moon of the Chinese calendar and marks the last day of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. The lanterns are meant to ward off evil spirits and bring families closer together to watch as they flood the streets. It is one of the most celebrated events of the year, with carnivals featuring impressive lantern displays, lion and dragon dances, artistic performances and of course, tangyuan, a soupy dumpling staple.
During the festival, children carry lanterns riddled with riddles and sayings to temples at night, a tradition that traces back 2,000 years to the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The lanterns symbolize a letting go of one’s past self and renewal in the new year.
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