The Meaning of a Chinese Lantern

You will rarely see one solitary Chinese lantern, rather you’ll see several at once, perhaps hundreds, floating up in the night sky. The traditional use of a this type of lantern began when civilians in China first recognised the beauty of the lanterns, which were originally used as signalling devices and started to incorporate them into their celebrations.

Ever since that time, they have been widely used all over China and Asia in festivals, notably Chinese New Year. Typically the end of the New Year celebrations are marked with a huge Chinese lantern festival, during which hundreds upon hundreds of lanterns are released by families celebrating the new year together.

The meaning behind the Chinese lantern does vary slightly according to the traditions associated with different events at which a Chinese lantern might be used. In the New Year celebrations, for example, the lanterns are considered to bring prosperity and good luck for those people who release them, as well as to represent an individual’s problems, worries and concerns floating away into the night.

In other celebrations, children solve riddles and puzzles drawn onto their lantern and carry them to Buddhist temples, where the flame is considered to represent wisdom. In still different festivals, lovers release a lantern between them in order to signify their love for each other.

What cannot be disputed is that the various traditions and perceived meanings behind the use of the lanterns are all very positive. This perhaps explains their increased use in the UK at celebrations of marriage and New Year.

The Meaning of a Chinese Lantern