What Is the Lantern Festival?

When winter begins to ease and the air feels a little softer, families across China prepare for one of the most beautiful and heartfelt celebrations of the year - the Lantern Festival. For us, it’s a time that marks warmth returning, lights filling the streets, and people gathering again after the stillness of winter. Growing up in Guangzhou, the Lantern Festival was one of those occasions that felt magical even before we understood its meaning. The glow of hundreds of lanterns, the laughter of families, and the taste of sweet tangyuan all made it a night that lingered in memory long after.

Now that we’re based here in the UK, the Lantern Festival has become something we love sharing with our community. It reminds us of the importance of family, reunion, and light - not just in a physical sense, but in the way it brings people together. Every year, as it approaches, we find ourselves reflecting on what it meant to us growing up and what it continues to mean today.

In 2026, the Lantern Festival will fall on Tuesday, 3 March, marking the first full moon of the lunar new year. It’s a time that symbolises renewal, brightness, and connection - all things that feel especially meaningful as winter gives way to spring. Whether you’re celebrating in China, here in the UK, or anywhere else in the world, the spirit of the festival remains the same: to welcome the year with warmth, gratitude, and light.

The Origins of the Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival, known in Chinese as Yuanxiao Jie (元宵节), marks the first full moon of the lunar new year. It falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, signalling the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Historically, it began over 2,000 years ago during the Han dynasty and was linked to ancient rituals of worshipping the gods of the heavens. Lanterns were lit to symbolise the return of light after winter’s darkness - both literally and spiritually.

Over time, the festival evolved into a celebration of joy and renewal. In different parts of China, people began to hang colourful lanterns outside their homes, temples, and city streets. These lanterns were more than decoration; they carried wishes for good fortune, happiness, and health in the year ahead. Some were painted with riddles or poems - a playful tradition that encouraged creativity and laughter.

In southern China, where we’re from, the Lantern Festival has always been celebrated with a sense of warmth and intimacy. People light lanterns along rivers, watch dragon dances, and share bowls of sweet tangyuan. It’s a night full of movement and sound - the crackle of fireworks, the hum of chatter, and the gentle flicker of candlelight from lanterns swaying in the evening breeze.

Why Lanterns Matter

Lanterns are at the heart of this celebration. They represent light overcoming darkness and the wish for a bright year ahead. Traditionally, they were made from paper and bamboo, often crafted by hand in the days leading up to the festival. Families would decorate them with paintings of flowers, animals, or calligraphy that reflected their hopes for the year.

Children carried small lanterns shaped like rabbits, fish, or dragons - symbols of luck and happiness - while adults hung larger ones outside homes or in courtyards. The light from each lantern symbolised the shared hope for prosperity and peace. Watching hundreds of lanterns float through the air or along a river creates a scene that feels timeless; it’s as if every flicker carries a small wish into the night.

Today, even though modern versions with LEDs and intricate designs are common, many people still prefer traditional paper lanterns. There’s something about the soft glow of candlelight that connects us to generations before us, reminding us that celebration and reflection can coexist beautifully.

The Meaning Behind Tangyuan

No Lantern Festival feels complete without tangyuan (汤圆) - glutinous rice balls filled with sweet sesame, peanut, or red bean paste. For us, they are more than just dessert. The word tangyuan sounds like tuanyuan, meaning “reunion,” which is why they’re eaten to symbolise family togetherness.

In our family, making tangyuan was an event in itself. Everyone would gather around the table, rolling small rice balls by hand. Some would help shape the dough while others prepared fillings. It was messy, laughter-filled, and always full of warmth. That hands-on experience of cooking together taught us that food is never just about taste - it’s about connection.

Eating tangyuan at the Lantern Festival feels like closing the circle of the New Year celebrations. It’s a final gesture of gratitude, family, and joy before the year truly begins. Even now, when we serve tangyuan here in the UK, that feeling of reunion is what we think of first.

Traditions and Activities During the Festival

The Lantern Festival is a lively celebration that combines creativity, community, and joy. One of the most charming customs is solving lantern riddles - lines of poetry or clever wordplay written on slips of paper and attached to lanterns. Solving them brings laughter and friendly competition, especially among children and neighbours.

Another key tradition is watching dragon and lion dances, which fill the streets with energy and music. These performances are said to drive away bad luck and bring good fortune for the year ahead. In some places, fireworks are set off, adding brightness to the night sky to honour the first full moon.

Food stalls often appear during larger community celebrations, offering traditional snacks like sesame balls, dumplings, or sweet rice cakes. The festival is as much about the senses as it is about symbolism - light, sound, taste, and the closeness of others.

In the UK, we’ve seen more cities and towns beginning to host Lantern Festival events, where communities can experience these traditions together. Whether large or small, the feeling is the same: light shared between people, marking a new beginning.

The Festival’s Meaning Today

For us, the Lantern Festival holds a mix of nostalgia and pride. It reminds us of where we come from and the values we grew up with - family, kindness, and gratitude. Even though the way we celebrate may have changed since moving to the UK, the meaning hasn’t. Every year, when we light a small lantern or share tangyuan with friends, it feels like we’re keeping that connection alive.

The festival teaches something timeless - that light and warmth are things we can create, even in the coldest season. It’s a reminder that joy doesn’t have to be grand; it can come from simple traditions shared with others. Whether you celebrate by lighting a lantern, making sweet rice balls, or simply enjoying a meal with loved ones, the spirit of the Lantern Festival is the same: to welcome light, unity, and hope.

Celebrating the Lantern Festival Here in Barry

Here in Barry, we like to bring a little piece of that brightness to our community. Around the time of the Lantern Festival, we often share stories of our own memories from Guangzhou and sometimes prepare small touches in our takeaway to mark the occasion. It’s a quiet way of honouring the celebration, but one that means a lot to us.

Many of our customers are curious about these traditions, and we love being able to share them. Food has always been our way of connecting with people - just as the Lantern Festival connects people through light and shared moments. Whether it’s a bowl of tangyuan or a warm dish from our kitchen, it’s our way of saying that traditions can travel, and their meaning can stay bright no matter where you are.