The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival is closely related to the moon, so it is also known as the Moon Festival. What does it mean to play with lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and what are its implications? The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. If you want to know more about the Mid-Autumn Festival, come to Huayi Network to see.

Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Play

There is a custom of playing with lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival, because the Mid-Autumn Festival is also one of China's three traditional lantern festivals.
Lantern playing during the Mid-Autumn Festival mainly takes place among families and children, and this practice was recorded in "Wulin Jiusi" from the Northern Song Dynasty.
Mid-Autumn lantern playing is mostly concentrated in the southern regions. For example, at the Foshan Autumn Color Fair, there are various colorful lanterns such as sesame lanterns, eggshell lanterns, wood shavings lanterns, rice straw lanterns, fish scale lanterns, grain husk lanterns, melon seed lanterns, and bird, beast, flower, and tree lanterns, which are impressive. In areas like Nanning, Guangxi, in addition to making various paper and bamboo lanterns for children to play with, there are also simple lanterns made from pomelo, pumpkin, and orange. A pomelo lantern is made by hollowing out the pomelo, carving a simple pattern, threading a rope, and lighting a candle inside, creating a soft glow. Pumpkin and orange lanterns are also made by removing the pulp. Although they are simple, they are easy to make and very popular, with some children even floating the pomelo lanterns in ponds for games. In Guangxi, there is a simple "autumn lantern," which is made by tying six bamboo rings together, covering them with white gauze paper, and inserting a candle inside, used for offering to the moon and also for children to play with. Nowadays, many areas in Guangdong and Guangxi have lantern fairs at night during the Mid-Autumn Festival, featuring large modern lanterns illuminated by electric lights, as well as new types of plastic lanterns for children to play with, but they lack the simplicity and beauty of traditional lanterns.

The Significance of Playing with Lanterns During the Mid-Autumn Festival

Whether it is playing with lanterns or watching lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is a meaning of happiness and reunion.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, streets and alleys are decorated with lanterns, and the whole family gathers together to play with, watch, and guess riddles on the lanterns. This not only represents illuminating the path of reunion but also creates an atmosphere of harmony and completeness.
In addition, since the word "lantern" contains the character "ding" (meaning son), lanterns are also associated with the wish for a newlywed wife to have a child, symbolizing a prosperous life and a growing family. Some places have customs where women pray for blessings to the lanterns.

Best Time to View the Moon During the Mid-Autumn Festival

The best time to view the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival is generally between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
It is usually best to view the moon two hours after sunset. During the period from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the moon is in the state of "the moon above the willow branches." Even sitting down, it is easy to enjoy a perfect full moon. After 9 p.m., as time goes on, the moon gradually moves to the southern sky. Therefore, at 11 p.m. (23:00), the moon is brightest and roundest, allowing one to admire the beautiful scene of "a bright moon hanging in the sky."