Why do people celebrate the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month? What is the historical reason?

Why do people celebrate the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month? What is the historical reason?
Introduction: Our country is a typical traditional country with many folk cultural festivals with a long history. There are many legends about the origins of these festivals. So, are there any historical legends about the origin of the Lantern Festival? Now, let’s follow the editor to learn about it. The first month of the lunar calendar is about to begin with various festivals. Let us count the important traditional festivals and customs of this month. A good year starts with spring.

1. Hanging Lanterns to Confuse the Jade Emperor

According to legend, a long time ago, a hunter accidentally shot and killed a sacred bird. The Emperor of Heaven was very angry and ordered the heavenly soldiers and generals to set fire to the earth on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and burn all living beings to death. The Emperor of Heaven's daughter could not bear to see innocent people suffer, so she secretly spread the news to the human world. People didn't know how to deal with it. Fortunately, an old man came up with an idea. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, every household decorated the house with lanterns and set off firecrackers and fireworks to confuse the Emperor of Heaven.
Everyone followed the plan, and on the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Emperor of Heaven saw a red light and a deafening noise on earth. He thought it was a burning flame and did not pursue the matter any further. The custom of hanging lanterns and setting off fireworks on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month originated from this.

2. Emperor Ming of Han lit a lamp to show respect to Buddha

Emperor Ming of Han promoted Buddhism. Hearing that in India, monks gathered on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to pay homage to the Buddha's relics, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty ordered that on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month, "lights should be lit in the palace and temples to show respect to the Buddha" in order to promote Buddhism.
Later, the custom of lighting lanterns during the Lantern Festival spread from the palace to the people.

3. Light up the lights and celebrate together

According to legend, after the death of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Empress Lü monopolized government affairs, supported the Lü clan, persecuted loyal officials, and veteran officials in the court and members of the Liu clan dared not speak out.
After Empress Lü's death, the Lü clan feared being ostracized and retaliated against, so they conspired to rebel and seize the Han dynasty. The Liu clan united with ministers loyal to the Han Dynasty to put down the "Lü Rebellion".
After the rebellion was quelled, all the ministers supported Emperor Wen of Han to ascend the throne. Emperor Wen felt that peace and prosperity were hard-won. To commemorate this historic day, he designated the 15th day of the first lunar month, the day when the "Lu Rebellion" was quelled, as the "Day of Joy with the People", and every household hung up lanterns and decorations to celebrate.

4. Dongfang Shuo offers a plan to save people

According to legend, Dongfang Shuo knew everything about astronomy and geography, and was kind, witty, and humorous.
Once, Dongfang Shuo accidentally saved a palace maid who was trying to commit suicide in despair because she missed her parents but could not see them. In order to help the palace maid, Dongfang Shuo designed a plan to make Emperor Wu of Han believe that on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, God would burn down Chang'an. In order to avoid this disaster, the entire city had to hang lanterns, light firecrackers and set off fireworks, as if the entire city was on fire, so as to deceive the Jade Emperor.
Emperor Wu ordered that Dongfang Shuo's method be carried out, and the palace maids were able to meet their families in the chaos, and Chang'an City was safe and sound. Emperor Wu of Han was delighted and ordered that the same ceremony be held every year on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Summary: Through the above article, we know some legends about the origin of the Lantern Festival. I hope you will like the above content. I wish you all good luck and a bright future in the new year!

After reading this article, there are more exciting contents in the special topic of the first month of the lunar calendar. Let’s take a look!

<<:  How did the Lantern Festival come about? Which of the three legends impresses you the most?

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