Linshu’s Happy Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is the last important festival during the Chinese Spring Festival. It falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month each year, the first full moon night of the new year.  The Lantern Festival in 2024 coincided with the Western Valentine’s Day, 14, February.

To celebrate the Lantern Festival, Linshu County in Shandong Province presented a colorful cultural feast by holding a variety of joyful folk activities. 

The Fuyuan Street Community, for instance, held a lively garden party, which attracted many locals to participate in. The traditional lantern riddle guessing led everyone back to the ancient time. The “table ice kettle” game charmed the participants with its simple but elegant rules. While playing games and solving puzzles, children were excited at experiencing the ancient wisdom embodied in the traditional culture. 

The lobby of Linshu County Library on the first floor was filled with people. Besides the big-scaled lantern riddle guessing with the topic of “Dragon Walking”, games like kettle-throwing, archery and lantern-making were all welcomed by big crowds, some in the traditional Han gown/dress. The prize winners were happy with their gifts. The once quiet and bookish library was in rhapsody.

In the multi-functional hall of Yandian Guanzhuang Village of Daxing Town, the first Lantern Festival Gala was being held with performances like the dance “Umbrella in the Rain”, the Liuqin Opera “New Era and Its Journey”, the Kuaiban “A New Course”, and the open-space dance “Celebrating Lantern Festival”. The programs were prepared and carried out by the villagers, unique, beloved and of local flavor. 

Tourists crowded into the Scenic Spot of Red Zhu Village to have fun with the not-to-be-missed lantern riddle guessing activity, wandering along the lantern riddle corridor and looking for their favorite riddles. Guessing correctly, they would receive a souvenir from the organizer. Wang Xiaolin, a tourist, said joyfully: “I got a prize by guessing the riddles today! The event was so interesting and I’m so happy!”