Lantern Festival: A Great Time to Attract Wealth and Romance!
The Lantern Festival is the first full moon night after the Lunar New Year. Legend has it that the Matchmaker God also ties everyone's red strings of fate at this time (sounds like the Matchmaker God movie by Giddens Ko, where there's a hidden red string waiting to be connected!).
Of course, it's also a great time to attract romance, and there are many long-standing folk customs to welcome good luck in the new year. Let's see what good luck charms and tips for finding a partner there are!
Lantern Festival Custom 1: Hang lanterns, light lamps, avoid dim lighting!
This custom, it is said, originated in ancient times when a celestial bird accidentally entered the human world and was killed by mortals, which angered the Jade Emperor, who ordered that the human world be engulfed in a sea of fire on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, burning countless people to death.
An old man thought of hanging red lanterns and lighting lamps at home on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth days, making the Jade Emperor think that a great fire had already occurred in the human world, thus successfully escaping the disaster. Since then, it has been a custom to hang lanterns and light lamps on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Furthermore, people in the past were afraid of darkness and would use lamps to drive away fear, giving lanterns the meaning of warding off evil and bringing good fortune. In addition, the Hokkien pronunciation of "lantern" (燈) and "male offspring" (丁) are similar, so lanterns also symbolize wishing for children and adding male offspring to the family.
Place lanterns in the home's romance corner and let them stay lit overnight
Since most lanterns now use LED electronic lights and very few people still light traditional ones, it is much safer. On the night of the Lantern Festival, you can place the lantern you used outside between 9 PM and 11 PM in the East of your home, which is this year's romance corner. Let the lantern stay lit overnight and turn it off when you wake up the next morning. This method can boost the romance luck for unmarried men and women.
Lantern Festival Custom: Eating Tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)
Eating tangyuan is an absolute must for the Lantern Festival, New Year's Eve, Mid-Autumn Festival, and any major holiday – as long as there's a large group of people, tangyuan will be present! The Lantern Festival is the first full moon night of the lunar year, symbolizing a new beginning. Eating tangyuan on this fifteenth day of the first lunar month symbolizes "reunion and completeness," meaning the whole family will be united and harmonious.
Lantern Festival Taboo: No arguing
As the saying goes, "don't argue," especially not on the Jade Emperor's birthday, as it will anger the deities.
Lantern Festival Taboo: Do not kill
On the Jade Emperor's birthday, it is not advisable to kill or see blood, as it may lead to financial loss and bloodshed.
Lantern Festival Taboo: Avoid wearing black and white striped clothes
Black and white are associated with imprisonment and death. Wearing them will lead to misfortune. Additionally, clothes should not have holes, which signifies financial leakage.
The folk customs above are for reference only. The most important thing is to celebrate happily! Wishing all friends a smooth year and abundant good luck <3