The Lantern Festival is on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar on the full moon. It aims to promote reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness.
How it Started
During the Han Dynasty, the fifteenth day of the first month was significant. People started celebrating it to honor Buddha. Then, it spread throughout Asia and became more popular. There are different stories about the origin of the Lantern Festivals. One of the stories is about the Jade Emperor. He was mad at the town killing his goose, so he planned to light the town on fire. Then, a spirit came and told the villagers to light lanterns in the town. The emperor thought the light from the lanterns in the town was the town lighting on fire, so he left it alone. The villagers celebrated this every year by decorating their town with lanterns.
Celebration in Lexington
This year, the Chinese American Association of Lexington, New Legacy Cultural Center, and Lexington Historical Society join together to organize a celebration on Sunday, Feb 5th. Everyone is invited to take part in fun activities and light up Depot Square!
