How to Celebrate Lantern Festival Abroad?

元宵节在外国的打开方式

The Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar falls on Feb. 24 this year, with countless lights illuminating the joyful atmosphere. Also known as Yuanxiao Festival or Shangyuan Festival, people celebrate by appreciating lanterns, eating yuanxiao (glutinous rice dumplings), guessing riddles on lanterns, and setting off fireworks to symbolize family reunion. In Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and other countries, the Lantern Festival is celebrated in unique ways with traditional customs.

正月十五闹元宵，万家灯火，喜气盈庭。元宵节又称上元节、元夜、灯节，人们赏花灯、吃元宵、猜灯谜、放烟花，庆祝团团圆圆。而在马来西亚、泰国、越南、日本、韩国、新加坡等亚洲国家，则有别样的元宵节庆祝方式和传统习俗。

"In Malaysia, the Lantern Festival is like a blind date event, where single men and women will participate in the orange-throwing activity, hoping to find their Mr. Right or Snow White," said Lin Suhui, a Malaysian studying at Henan University of Chinese Medicine (HUCM). She said that during the Lantern Festival, girls will write their names and contacts on the oranges and throw them into the river, and boys will compete to fish up the oranges and then contact the owners. This "blind box" method adds fun and is popular among young people. Nowadays, with the development of the times, it has evolved to include throwing bananas, apples, durians, and other fruits.

“在马来西亚，元宵节是一场相亲盛会，单身男女会参加抛柑活动，盼结下良缘。”河南中医药大学马来西亚留学生林素慧介绍，女生会在柑橘上写下自己的名字及联系方式，将柑橘抛入河湖中，男生则用长竿争相将柑橘捞起。这种“开盲盒”的方式增加了趣味性，受到年轻人的欢迎，如今随着时代发展又延伸出抛香蕉、抛苹果、抛榴莲等方式。

Lin said that she came from a Chinese family, with grandparents from Chaozhou, Guangdong Province. Therefore, her family pays great attention to educating her in traditional Chinese culture since childhood. The family also celebrates the Chinese Lunar New Year according to the customs of southern China. And the Lantern Festival is one of the most important festivals for them.

林素慧说，自己来自华人家庭，爷爷奶奶是广东潮州人，因此家人非常注重从小对她进行中华传统文化的教育，家里也保留着中国南方地区的春节习俗，元宵节对全家人来说是最重要的节日之一。

The Loy Krathong Festival is considered Thailand’s equivalent of the Lantern Festival. TATSANEE, a Thai girl studying at Henan University of Chinese Medicine (HUCM), said that the Loy Krathong Festival typically takes place in November and shares many similarities with the Lantern Festival. People will release various water lanterns adorned with incense candles to make wishes. They stroll along the riverside, admiring the floating water lanterns and the moon.

水灯节被视作泰国的元宵节。河南中医药大学泰国留学生方小珍说，水灯节通常在11月，与元宵节有很多相似之处。人们把自己制作的各种造型的水灯点上香烛，放入河中，许下心愿。大家在河边相伴而行，观水灯、赏月亮。

"In the northern and northeastern parts of Thailand, there are some places where people will release the sky lanterns, and some places will hold the beauty pageants during the festival. And I hope to take my Chinese friends to Thailand to experience the romantic Loy Krathong Festival," said TATSANEE.

她说：“在泰国的北部和东北部还有放孔明灯的习俗，还有一些地方会举办选美大赛。我希望能带我的中国朋友们到泰国体验浪漫的水灯节。”

Selina comes from Vietnam and was deeply impressed by Henan’s rich and splendid culture during her visit to Zhengzhou last year. According to Selina, the Lunar New Year is also one of the grandest traditional festivals in Vietnam, and many places hold lantern festivals and fairs during Lantern Festival. "Vietnam also has historically significant places like Hoi An Ancient Town, where the Lantern Festival is famous far and wide. I treasure a lantern given to me by a friend from Hoi An, which is brightly colored and uniquely shaped. Lanterns are one of the most popular decorations in Vietnam and can be seen everywhere in cities like Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Hoi An. People believe that red lanterns not only serve as decorations but also bring us good luck and happiness." Selina said.

阮黎明月来自越南，去年曾到郑州参加大学生文化交流活动，对河南厚重灿烂的文化印象深刻。她说：“农历新年也是越南最盛大的传统节日，元宵节许多地方都会举办灯会集市。越南也有像河南一样历史悠久的地方，比如会安古城，那里的元宵灯会远近闻名。我珍藏着朋友送我的一盏会安灯笼，它颜色鲜艳、外形别致。灯笼是越南最受欢迎的装饰品之一，在河内、宁平、会安等地随处可见，大家认为红灯笼不仅是一种装饰，还可以给我们带来好运和幸福。”

In Singapore, locals keep many traditional Chinese customs about the Lantern Festival, such as eating colorful yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls). In Japan, the Japanese always call the Lantern Festival “Xiaozhengyue (the first month of the lunar year),” and People typically drink red bean soup and attend lantern festival fairs. South Koreans eat Five-Grain Rice porridge (called "Ogokbap") with hopes for a year of abundance and prosperity.

在新加坡，元宵节保留了许多中国传统习俗，人们可以吃到五颜六色的大元宵；在日本，元宵节被称为“小正月”，人们喝红豆粥、逛灯会；在韩国，人们吃五谷饭希望新的一年丰衣足食。

The Lantern Festival, with its various customs across different countries, yet show the same best wishes to the people of the world.

元宵佳节，不同国度、不同习俗，寄托的是全世界同样的美好愿望。（中文来源/河南日报 记者/沈剑奇 童林 编译/童林 审校/温晓梅）

Web editors: Li Xiaoshu