What is the origin of Lantern Festival?

The Western Han Dynasty paid attention to the 15th day of the first month. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty offered sacrifices to "Taiyi" in Ganquan Palace on the first night of the first month, which was regarded by later generations as the forerunner of offering sacrifices to the gods on the fifteenth day of the first month. The introduction of Buddhist culture in the Eastern Han Dynasty is of great significance to the formation of Lantern Festival customs.

Yuanxiao was only called the fifteenth day of the first month, the first half of the first month or the full moon when the early festivals were formed, and it was called Yuanxiao or Yuanxiao after Sui. Influenced by Taoism in the early Tang Dynasty, it was also called Shangyuan, but it was only in the late Tang Dynasty that it was occasionally called Yuanxiao. But since the Song Dynasty, it has also been called Dengxi. In the Qing dynasty, it was also called the Lantern Festival. In foreign countries, Lantern Festival is also called Lantern Festival.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, because there are folk customs of hanging lanterns, lighting lanterns and watching lanterns.

On the fifteenth night of the first month, red lights are hung high in the streets and alleys, including palace lanterns, animal lanterns, lanterns, bird lanterns and so on, to attract people to watch lanterns. In Taiyuan area, the lights in Taigu County are very famous. Taikoo lamp is famous for its variety, exquisite production and beautiful appearance.