is a kind of Han folk rituals and religious activities, used to mourn the deceased loved ones, the living people blessing, often on the first day of the month, the fifteenth and the death anniversary. River lanterns, also known as "lotus lanterns", is generally placed on the base of the lamps or candles, the night of the New Year's Eve on the rivers, lakes and the sea, let it float.

The seventh day of the seventh month of the summer calendar, is the folk magpie bridge will be festivals, also known as the Beggar's Day, Daughter's Day, people are afraid of the Cowherd can not see the dark night of the magpie bridge, they will be on the earth in the river lamps, so that the Cowherd to recognize the road quickly and the Weaving Maiden will meet. After the Song Dynasty, many literati wrote about this in their poems.

Origin:

Fishing and hunting era, people driving boats out to sea under the lake to avoid storms, in the past dangerous reefs and dangerous beaches or high winds and high waves, with wooden boards made of bamboo for the boat, put offerings lighted candles, colorful paper to make sails and lanterns put in the water and let it drift, to the god of the sea to pray for peace. This custom is still popular among fishermen in Taiwan, Fujian and Guangdong, called colorful boat lanterns.

Slave society in the 11th century B.C. Zhou Dynasty, the Duke of Zhou assisted King Wu Bu Cheng Luoyi, in the Qu Shui feast to celebrate, "running water pan wine", "goblet flow with the waves", night and day continue, put the wine cups on the marigolds on the lamp, goble flow of glass evolved lamps and wine wave by wave.

In modern times, the people of Fujian use the tide downwind, with paper, cloth, silk, plastic, metal production of river lamps, floating to Kinmen, Matsu, lamp wall written with loved ones reunion, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait three passes, the early reunification, revitalization of China wishes, lamps on board with letters of condolence and gifts, so that put the river lamps and a new era of breath.

"The river lamps are bright, the river lamps are bright, the cowherd and the weaving maiden are full of joy", "The river lamps are put on for 3,000 miles, the concubine's years are as sweet as honey", "Putting on the river lamps, putting them on today and throwing them away tomorrow" and so on. Folk ballads and bamboo rhymes testify to the longevity of the custom.