The origin of Lantern Festival:
The origin of the Lantern Festival is very ancient, which originated from ancient humans who used torches to exorcise evil spirits during festivals. This festival is to sacrifice to the gods. Because it is held at night, it is natural to burn torches, and then it gradually evolved into the Lantern Festival.
Lantern Festival is a traditional festival in China, which existed as early as the Western Han Dynasty more than two thousand years ago.
Lantern Festival began in the period of Emperor Han Ming in the East. Because Emperor Han Ming advocated Buddhism, it coincided with Cai Cheng's return from India for Buddhism. Cai Cheng said that on the 15th day of the first month in India, monks gathered to pay homage to Buddhist relics, which was an auspicious day to participate in Buddhism. Cai Cheng said that on the 15th day of the first month in India, monks gathered to pay tribute to Buddhist relics, which was an auspicious day to participate in Buddhism.
In order to promote Buddhism, Emperor Hanming ordered "burning lamps to show Buddha" in palaces and monasteries on the fifteenth night of the first month. Therefore, the custom of burning lanterns on the fifteenth night of the first month, with the expansion of the influence of Buddhist culture and the addition of Taoist culture, gradually passed down in China.
Since then, this Buddhist ceremonial festival has gradually expanded into a grand folk festival. The festival has experienced a development process from the court to the people and from the Central Plains to the whole country.