Rice paper floaters, flickering airborne luminaries, and illuminated items on the ground are all hallmarks of lantern festivals all around the world. There is more to each celebration than meets the eye, whether that significance is religious or merely cultural. But at the same time, the themes of optimism and peace are central to lantern festivals.
A single lantern festival is not representative of the full spectrum. Many of these locations provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities due to their unique character and vibrancy. These events celebrate the art of the lantern to the fullest.
List of the 10 Best Lantern Festivals From All Around The Globe:
1. Amsterdam at night, lit by candlelight canals
Amsterdam in the winter is always greatly enhanced by the sight of hundreds of candle flames illuminating the city’s waterways. Due to Covid, the Amsterdam Festival of Lights has been scaled back to only nine installations.
Under full moons or starry nights, the city’s vibrant center shone brightly everyone is gazing at them with full of joy. As is customary in the Netherlands, works by both established and emerging artists were on exhibit for anyone to see.
2. Watch the city of Naples come alive
Though this year’s September light festival of Piedigrotta was scaled way back, it typically culminates with spectacular fireworks over the Bay of Naples to honor a miraculous vision of Mary at a coastal church.
Promenading with a gelato in hand behind candle-carrying strollers as you watch the lights of houses twinkle on the hills is an operatic experience worth a lifetime of travel memories, as is taking part in an illuminated procession next to the lapping waves, with the magnificent, menacing Vesuvius in the background. In the year 2023, this is hoped to be the best. Let’s cross our fingers for 2023.
3. The Northern Lights, in Durham
A majority of the events at Lumiere in Durham, which takes place every two years in November, are gratis to attend. Lasers illuminate the city’s most recognizable structures, including the castle and church.
The city center has been transformed into a big snow globe, and a whale has emerged from the River Wear in previous years, but each event is unique (pictured). The preparations for the festival in November 2021 are well underway.
4. Light and Fortune, Thailand
The Loy Krathong festival in Bangtao, Phuket is one of the most joyous festivals. On the festival of Loy Krathong, people make offerings of candles and lanterns in the hopes of attracting prosperity. You can purchase your Krathong, offerings decorated with leaves, flowers, and a candle from a local shop for 50 baht.
We floated them out across the lagoon. There were performances by neighborhood groups, food stands, and activities hosted by area hotels, all of which usually offers prizes to the attendees.
5. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng
In honor of Loy Krathong and the lunar new year of the dog, Yi Peng Every year in November, Thais celebrate two different lantern festivals known as Loy Krathong and Yi Peng. Both events occur on the same day annually and together produce a spectacular spectacle straight out of a fairy tale.
Loy Krathong is an ancient Thai celebration honoring the goddess of water and the Buddha. Released onto rivers, lakes, and oceans all around Thailand, these lotus-shaped floaters are part of a celebration held during the full moon of the 12th lunar month of the Thai calendar.
The sky lantern festival of Yi Peng is celebrated only in Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand. Furthermore, this city was once the seat of power for the Lanna Kingdom. Launching khom loi lanterns into the night sky is a highlight of the festival.
6. Diwali
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated in the months of Kartika (October/November) by Hindus all over the world to commemorate the victory of good over evil. Poojas (rituals) are performed by Indian families during the celebrations to wish for good health, abundant money, and joyful lives.
The Hindu holiday of Diwali is also known as the “Festival of Lights” because of the custom of lighting clay oil lamps (diyas) and displaying them in windows and on sidewalks at night. As an additional show of joy, revelers will often let off fireworks and decorate their windows with fairy lights.
Celebrating with a local Indian family will provide you with the most authentic experience of Diwali while traveling in India. Another enjoyable activity would be to have your guide lead you on a stroll around the festively lit Diwali bazaar, where you could sample traditional sweets.
7. Community Lighting, Lake District
Just outside the southern boundary of the Lake District lies the festival town of Ulverston. Midway through September is when the town’s annual lantern festival takes place, and it’s a sight to behold. A mysterious extravaganza of music, dancing, and fireworks culminate in a park after four streams of handcrafted lanterns (formed from willow, paper, and candles, and with a different theme each year) have made their way through the cobblestone streets.
Unfortunately, this year’s parade had to be canceled, but that didn’t stop people from making lanterns and sending in images and videos to share online. The festival’s organizers are hopeful that next year’s event will be even more successful due to the festival’s emphasis on community and openness.
8. Japan: Light on the water
The autumn Mizuakari Festival in Kumamoto shows us what we should never miss seeing. Thousands of internally lighted bamboo poles with elaborate patterns line miles of roads and illuminate the massive old castle that was largely devastated by an earthquake.
Thousands of half-submerged lanterns decorate the river that runs through town, and, as this is Japan, the polite and silent reverent throng amplifies the golden glow. Thousands of yakitori vendors selling food on sticks contribute to this trend. This usually occurs in the month of 2023 and the event looks super promising.
9. Taiwan’s Pingxi Lantern Festival
On the final day of the Chinese New Year, thousands of people travel to the mountain village of Pingxi to celebrate the town’s annual lantern festival.
Ancestor worship is at the heart of the Pingxi Lantern Festival, which has been going strong for almost a century. As part of the festivities, attendees will scribble their hopes and dreams on paper lanterns using a calligraphy pen before setting them free into the night sky.
Because of the topography and mountains in the area, sky lanterns can only be set free in Pingxi, Taiwan. When you go to the town, you’ll see hundreds of lantern stores selling all kinds of lanterns in all kinds of colors to signify all kinds of desires.
10. Hawaii’s Festival of Lights
Peacefully commemorating our loved ones who have passed away, the Hawaiian Lantern Floating Festival is a touching Memorial Day tradition. Every year on May 27th, thousands of people gather at Ala Moana Beach to commemorate togetherness in the face of adversity.
Everyone is welcome to attend the party and take part in the activities for free. After the blowing of the Hawaiian conch shell, musical performances such as the taiko drums and the Ka Lei Moana hula will take the stage.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, participants release lanterns into the Hawaiian night sky, each bearing a message of hope, love, or gratitude from the gathering.
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