The Lantern Festival is a big deal in many communities, but today’s Lantern Festival is a far cry from its origins, believed to go back over 2,000 years to the Western Han Dynasty. The emperor, who was Buddhist, saw monks light lanterns in the temple on the 15th day of the first month and ordered that lanterns be similarly lit in the imperial palace, in temples and households all over his realm. In some places people set off sky lanterns (paper lanterns with a small flame inside), writing their wishes before sending them aloft. In Taiwan, where setting off sky lanterns is a big tourist attraction, this is confined to Pingxi and Shifen counties for one day only (Feb. 28 and March 3, respectively), with a limited number of lanterns launched at set intervals. It’s nothing like the traditional parade of red paper lanterns, as technology has taken over and the lanterns are computer-guided multi-sensory, sometimes interactive, spectacles.

Source: Philippine Star March 09, 2026 16:41 UTC