Lantern FestivalGlobal Spread

Cambodia is one of the countries where the overseas Lantern Festival retains the strongest sense of ritual. Chinese ancestors who migrated to Cambodia hundreds and thousands of years ago deeply rooted the traditions of ancestor worship and deity processions from their homelands in the local society. Ancestor worship is the central Lantern Festival ritual among Cambodian Chinese families: households prepare elaborate offerings in advance; roast suckling pig gleams with a glossy sheen, roast chicken gives off a rich aroma, and locally abundant fruits and traditional pastries are carefully arranged on the offering table. Khmer traditional foods and fresh flowers are also often placed on both sides of the table; this seemingly casual combination is precisely a warm portrait of generations of coexistence between Cambodian and Chinese cultures.

The most imposing Lantern Festival activity is the “deity procession”. In Phnom Penh’s Orussey commercial district, banners fill the sky and gongs and drums thunder. Wherever the procession passes, lion dancers leap with joy and the public lines the streets to welcome it. The deities respectfully invited by the “乩童” include Tianhou Shengmu, Baosheng Dadi, Nezha the Third Prince, and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Following long-standing custom, householders along the route bow devoutly as the divine procession passes, while the 乩童 use traditional movements to bestow blessings and ward off misfortune for merchants and residents. Today, many young Chinese Cambodians have also joined the procession—some carry lanterns, while others beat gongs and drums. The active participation of Khmer residents has further transformed this Chinese tradition into a vehicle for cultural integration between Cambodia and China. The Lantern Festival deity procession is not merely a religious ritual, but also an important bond through which overseas Chinese communities transmit their traditional beliefs and strengthen communal ties.

In Malaysia, the Lantern Festival is a distinctive “grand matchmaking occasion”. Unmarried men and women take part in the activity of “throwing mandarins”: women write their names and contact information on citrus fruits and throw them into rivers or lakes, while men compete to retrieve them with long poles. This matchmaking method, somewhat like “opening a mystery box”, adds an element of fun and is popular among young people. Today, with changing times, variations involving bananas, apples, and even durians have also appeared. Lin Suhui, a Malaysian student from a Chinese family, said that her grandparents came from Chaozhou, Guangdong, and that her family still preserves Spring Festival customs from southern China; for her entire family, the Lantern Festival is one of the most important festivals. In Malaysia, in addition to dragon and lion dances, the custom of “抛柑接蕉” is also highly distinctive: young Chinese men and women write their names and contact information on bananas or citrus fruits. This combination of the Lantern Festival’s “romantic gene” with the local culture of Nanyang has created a distinctive “localized” matchmaking tradition.

Indonesian Chinese Li Fuyuan showed through video the local Lantern Festival deity procession in Tegal: seven deity sedan chairs were carried by the procession from the temple all the way to Tegal Port, with solemnity and devotion permeating the thunder of gongs and drums. He said that people from Minnan regard deity processions as a form of spiritual sustenance; even after “putting down roots and spreading their branches” in Nanyang, the customs of celebrating the Lantern Festival and staging votive operas for the gods have never ceased, and remain the bond that connects them closely to their homeland. Today, he has taken the baton from his father and continues to pass on Minnan customs.

On March 2, 2026, the “亲情中华·四海同春” touring performance, jointly organized by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, was held in Bandung. Artistic groups from China presented wonderful performances to local audiences, while more than a thousand representatives from different sectors of Indonesian society and members of the overseas Chinese community celebrated the Lantern Festival together. Zhuang Junqin, chairman of the West Java branch of the Indonesian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said: “I thought it was wonderful. I hope a program like this can come to Bandung again next time. It is a source of pride for us Chinese.”

Chen Yaohua, a member of the Chinese community in Thailand, took part in a Lantern Festival activity organized by the Chinese community in Bangkok and was captivated by the Teochew opera performed there. Teochew opera contains many classic scenes depicting Lantern Festival lantern viewing—the audience watches the play, but what it savors is the full range of human life. In addition to listening to opera, older members of the overseas Chinese community shared Lantern Festival customs from their ancestral hometowns; community members gathered to steam “寿桃包” and paint lanterns, kneading their hopes for the coming year into the dough and painting them onto the lantern surfaces.

Zeng Yuanjian, a member of the Chinese community in Vietnam, told reporters that the Lantern Festival atmosphere in Vietnam is strong. In addition to dragon and lion dances and lantern viewing, many Chinese chambers of commerce also organize Qiong opera and Teochew opera performances, bringing to those far from home the sounds and sentiments of their ancestral homeland. The Lantern Festival in Hoi An Ancient Town is renowned far and wide—lanterns are among the most popular decorations in Vietnam, and people believe that red lanterns are not merely decorative, but can also bring good luck and happiness.

Most Chinese Singaporeans trace their ancestry to southern China, and therefore eat tangyuan during the Lantern Festival. The filled tangyuan “鸭母捻”, originating in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong, is a common everyday snack in Singapore; once cooked, this kind of tangyuan floats on sweet soup. Whenever the Lantern Festival arrives, Chinatown is the place where the festive atmosphere is strongest; all kinds of lanterns fill the area, with some even suspended in the air.

The evolution of the Lantern Festival in Japan is the most distinctive branch in the entire East Asian tradition. Japan’s traditional festivals also include a “Lantern Festival,” called Koshōgatsu in Japanese, in contrast to Ōshōgatsu on January 1. During the Meiji period, Japan replaced the lunar calendar with the Gregorian calendar; the first month shifted from the first lunar month to January in the Gregorian calendar, and the Koshōgatsu corresponding to the Lantern Festival was likewise fixed on January 15.

Unlike in China, Japanese people do not have the custom of eating yuanxiao or tangyuan on Koshōgatsu, but do traditionally eat red-bean porridge. According to tradition, the red color of the beans possesses a supernatural power to drive away evil influences. In addition, people in Japan pray on Koshōgatsu for good harvests in sericulture and agriculture. Japan’s Lantern Festival is called Koshōgatsu, and its customs include welcoming the deity of the year and ancestral spirits, as well as praying for abundant harvests.

Although Japan’s own Lantern Festival has already become detached from the lunar-calendar date, Chinatowns in different regions still hold grand lantern festivals on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Yokohama Chinatown organizes Lantern Festival lantern-viewing activities every year, and local Chinese residents and overseas Chinese often go there to join in the festivities. Lantern viewing begins around dusk, and the entire street is decorated in brilliant colors. Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown also holds the “Nagasaki Lantern Festival”, a grand celebration whose festive atmosphere even draws in many Japanese visitors. The Nagasaki festival centers on lanterns and originated in Shinchi Chinatown, where the Chinese population was concentrated.

The Lantern Festival also corresponds to a major traditional festival in South Korea, where it is known as Daeboreum. Koreans do not celebrate the day by eating yuanxiao, but instead eat five-grain rice, nuts, and other seasonal foods. The representative food of the Korean Lantern Festival is five-grain rice, symbolizing an abundant harvest, accompanied by various healthy wild vegetables, walnuts, peanuts, chestnuts, and other foods. Koreans believe that eating nuts during the Lantern Festival can strengthen the teeth. According to Korean folk custom, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is marked by eating five-grain rice and nine kinds of vegetables: on the night before the Lantern Festival, rice made with five kinds of grain is prepared; nine kinds of dried vegetables harvested and dried the previous year are soaked in water and then mixed with seasonings to make cold dishes; the dried vegetables and five-grain rice are wrapped in vegetable leaves and seaweed before being eaten, symbolizing the taking in of the new year’s blessings. According to legend, five-grain rice should first be placed in the cattle trough so that the cattle can eat their fill, thereby ensuring a great harvest in the new year. It is also said that one should eat five-grain rice from more than three families with different surnames in order to have good luck throughout the year, and for this reason there is a Korean custom of sharing five-grain rice. After getting up on the day of the Lantern Festival, Koreans also eat hard-shelled nuts and drink “清耳酒”, also known as “耳明酒”. On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, various activities are held in Korea to drive away evil spirits, dispel misfortune, and pray for health.

Vietnam has likewise been deeply influenced by Chinese culture, and the Lantern Festival atmosphere there is strong. Members of the Chinese community in Vietnam explain that, in addition to dragon and lion dances and lantern viewing, many Chinese chambers of commerce organize Qiong opera and Teochew opera performances, bringing to those far from home the sounds and sentiments of their ancestral homeland. The Lantern Festival of Hoi An Ancient Town is renowned far and wide—lanterns are among the most popular decorations in Vietnam, and people believe that red lanterns are not merely decorative, but can also bring good luck and happiness. Lantern markets and fairs are held in many places during the Festival.

During the 2026 Lantern Festival, celebrations in Italy were especially grand. On March 1, Milan Chinatown’s grand dragon-and-lion dance celebration was held at the Arco della Pace square and attracted more than 20,000 residents and visitors. The Winter Paralympic mascot also appeared and interacted with performers and spectators. On the same day, Florence held the grand “迎新春·闹元宵” celebration. Chinese Consul General in Florence Yin Qi, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Salvini, and others attended, while the event attracted more than 10,000 local residents and international visitors.

Local resident Francesca Rione said: “It is a brilliant and colorful festival, like a Chinese version of Carnival, and it allows everyone to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.” Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport Matteo Salvini said: “I think the more deeply one studies Chinese culture, the more fascinating it becomes.” The attendance and personal remarks of the Italian deputy prime minister marked the Lantern Festival’s transformation in Italy from an internal Chinese community activity into a cultural event attracting broad participation from mainstream society.

In London, the Lantern Festival is likewise an important festival for the Chinese community. During the Lantern Festival, Chinatown is decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments, while dragon and lion dances leap through the streets. In London, Birmingham, and other cities, Chinese associations celebrate the Lantern Festival every year in a wide variety of ways—eating tangyuan, viewing lanterns, and staging dragon and lion dances. In Chinatown in particular, the festive atmosphere is especially strong.

Switzerland — Eastern Rhythms in Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland, also held festive activities during the 2026 Lantern Festival. Traditional Chinese instrumental ensembles filled the air with lingering melodies, while the flowing garments of hanfu fluttered in the wind, presenting a spirited and vibrant scene. Although Switzerland’s Chinese community is smaller than those of the United Kingdom and France, the lights of the Lantern Festival still shine in the heart of Europe.

In Serbia, the Lantern Festival is celebrated in a distinctive way. On March 1, 2026, a special Lantern Festival screening under “欢乐春节” — “Chinese Film Week” was held in the northern Serbian city of Zrenjanin. Through watching Chinese films and taking part in interactive experiences, local residents were able to experience the appeal of Chinese culture at close range. Lalić, director of Belgrade’s Belt and Road Institute, said: “We have noticed that many people who have watched Chinese films later look for opportunities to travel to China, because they are deeply attracted by Chinese culture and history.” The event also featured a Chinese traditional-culture experience area, where many children showed strong interest in Chinese culture. Local child Stella said: “I tried Chinese calligraphy. It looks simple, but it is actually very difficult. I am very excited, and I like it very much.”

In Germany, Lantern Festival celebrations are likewise rich and varied. Lu Xin, head of a Chinese arts troupe in North Rhine-Westphalia, said that although festival customs and cultural atmospheres overseas differ from those in China, the functions of the Lantern Festival in transmitting culture, bringing communities together, carrying homesickness, and promoting exchange remain the same. For overseas Chinese, the Lantern Festival is an important time to remember their homeland and miss their loved ones, and is also an expression of identity and cultural confidence. Lu Xin also told reporters that in Germany, growing numbers of second- and third-generation Chinese young people are joining the celebrations dressed in traditional clothing such as hanfu and qipao. “Overseas Chinese communities make careful preparations and continue the festival traditions. The joyful Lantern Festival atmosphere also encourages young people of Chinese descent to take an interest in Chinese culture.” In Antwerp in Belgium, Madrid in Spain, and other places, Lantern Festival temple fairs are often held, with stalls displaying food, handicrafts, calligraphy, and more. Some cultural centers and Chinese associations also organize cultural exhibitions and lectures.

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and also the largest Chinese community in the world outside Asia. Every Lantern Festival, a parade is held from around five in the afternoon until evening. In New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other cities, Chinese associations celebrate the Lantern Festival every year in rich and varied ways—eating tangyuan, viewing lanterns, and staging dragon and lion dances—bringing the festive atmosphere to its height. Many Chinese also choose to visit temple fairs to make wishes, hoping that in the new year they will be full of vigor and that their wishes will come true.

The Lantern Festival float parade in New York’s Chinatown is particularly distinctive. In the 2024 parade, not only did Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong join the festivities, but each float had its own characteristics: the Moutai float had the strongest New Year atmosphere, the Red Bull float was the most DJ-like—mixing music while handing out Red Bull drinks—and the Salesforce float was so high-energy that the whole vehicle kept shaking. This combination of a traditional Chinese festival with the creativity of modern commercial brands is precisely a vivid reflection of the localized evolution of Lantern Festival culture in the United States. In Chinatown, the festive atmosphere is especially intense: gongs and drums thunder, firecrackers erupt, and lion-dance troupes take to the streets, performing blessings in front of shops and wishing people flourishing lives and ever-better fortune. Chuang Yen Monastery, New York’s largest Buddhist monastery, is also a good place to visit during the Lantern Festival.

During the 2026 Lantern Festival, Seattle in the United States also held festive activities. Dragon and lion dances leapt through the streets, while the flowing garments of hanfu fluttered in the wind. The Lantern Festival celebration organized by the Seattle Emerald City Chinese Parents Association has become an important local cultural event.

Chinese communities in Canada also organize rich and varied activities during the Lantern Festival. Overseas Chinese in Canada celebrate by eating yuanxiao, watching lion dances, and guessing lantern riddles, offering blessings for the new year amid reunion and joyful gatherings. Lantern Festival celebrations among Chinese communities in Canada include Vancouver’s LunarFest and celebrations in Toronto’s Chinatown. Art exhibitions and other activities also add cultural depth to the Lantern Festival. In Vancouver, overseas Chinese of Chaoshan origin still organize the traditional coming-of-age ceremony “出花园” for young people. These customs have crossed mountains and seas: some come from the ancestral homeland, while others have taken root overseas and gradually evolved into new cultural traditions.