Floating Lanterns Festival: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Floating Lanterns Festival (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Floating Lanterns Festival is observed on February 5th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Floating Lanterns Festival, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as important facts you may want to know about Floating Lanterns Festival.

📅 What day is Floating Lanterns Festival 2024?

In 2024, Floating Lanterns Festival is on Sunday, February 5th. It is the 1st Sunday in February; in 2024, it is Monday. There are until the next observance. You also can view all the exciting details and facts about February 5, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

The Floating Lanterns Festival is an annual event celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in the Chinese calendar. This year, it will be held on February 5. During this festival, traditional Chinese lanterns made of paper or oiled silk are released into the water or sky. Water lanterns are commonly known as floating lanterns, while sky lanterns are referred to as sky lanterns. These lanterns are often decorated with paper shapes, such as animals or Chinese characters. They are constructed with a small square frame held together by bamboo skewers. It is believed that releasing these lanterns into lakes, oceans, rivers, and water wells will bring fertility to the land, as water spirits are believed to welcome them with joy.

📜 Floating Lanterns Festival History

Emperor Ming, during the Han Dynasty in China, imitated Buddhist monks who lit lanterns on the 15th day of the Chinese year about 2,000 years ago. He did this to show respect to Buddha and ordered lanterns to be lit in the palace, temples, and homes. Another story involves the Jade Emperor, a deity in Chinese mythology, who planned to burn down a community but was stopped by his daughter who informed the residents. A wise man advised them to hang and light red lanterns to create the illusion that the community was already on fire.

Many Asian countries, including Korea and Japan, celebrate the Floating Lantern Festival as a holiday due to Chinese cultural influence. Although the festival is still observed in China and around the world, it is not officially recognized as a public holiday in Mainland China, so people do not get time off from work or school.

Floating lantern festivals have been popular in China, Japan, and other Asian countries for centuries. These celebrations are now gaining popularity in the United States, with events like the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival.

✅ Floating Lanterns Festival Facts

🔖 Myanmar
The Thadingyut Festival of Lights is celebrated to mark the end of the Buddhist calendar’s period of fasting and reflection, symbolizing the homecoming of the Buddha.

🔖 Japan

🔖 Indonesia
Every year on Vesak Day, a significant number of individuals gather at the biggest Buddhist temple in Java to honor the birth of Buddha and witness the captivating sight of numerous lanterns being released into the sky.

👍 Why Is Floating Lanterns Festival Important

Lantern celebrations assist individuals in removing negative influences from their lives, while lanterns attract good luck and wealth to their families in the next year. They are also quite attractive!

It is a method to honor people who have passed away. People may show their appreciation for their loved ones by sending out lanterns shaped like animals or other items across the sky with inscriptions inscribed on them.

Based on the mythology of the Jade Emperor, the Chinese believe that lanterns represent peace and forgiveness. Indeed, lanterns are used to guide the souls of the deceased to the hereafter at many lantern festivals.

🙂 How To Observe Floating Lanterns Festival

⚡ Share on social media

⚡ Make a wish
Before setting free your illuminated lantern, take a moment to make a wish. You can write it down and keep it inside the lamp. It is believed that unleashing your glowing light during this festive occasion will bring your desires to life! Nevertheless, prior to doing so, ensure that you have the authorization to release flying lanterns or sky lanterns in your local area.

⚡ Enjoy the festival
You may join in the celebration by sharing this day on social media with your friends and family. You can also share photos of beautiful floating lantern events you’ve been to to encourage others to go.

📅 When is Floating Lanterns Festival?

View all 🔗 February holidays, including 🔗 Cultural and other 🔗 Appreciation holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Floating Lanterns Festival. So be sure to check back soon.