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The Daoist Outlook・024

Feb 07, 2025

The Red Lantern Festival

   It feels like only yesterday we were honoring the Yang Wood Dragon, and now here we are, already well into the Snake. The two week festival that we call Chinese New Year, is just about complete. It's officially finished on the first full moon of the year - a holiday known as the Red Lantern Festival. 

   Legend has it, that a young boy accidentally killed a beautiful swan which just so happened to be the prized pet of an evil demi-god. Furious about the death, the angry demon king vowed to kill the boy and his entire village. The beloved Fairy Moon Goddess caught wind of the plan and materialized into a young maiden to warn the town of the coming calamity. Quickly, the entire village hung up big red lanterns everywhere to make it seem as if the town was engulfed in flames. That night, the Fairy Moon Goddess convinced the evil demon king that he had already destroyed the village and that he must have blacked out from rage so he couldn't remember. It was a stretch, but it worked, and that's how the tradition was born!
   Anyway, folkore aside, how'd you celebrate the Lunar New Year? Do you have any plans for the Snake? Would you like to see anything special from us this year? Any topics you want to read about? Any movements you want to learn? Any workshops or retreats that you would consider? Shoot us an e-mail and tell us what's on your mind! Let's have a powerful year together!

✧ Red Lantern Festival Fun ✧

Fresh Food: We haven't stopped eating since New Years!
Refreshments: Home made yellow wine is a local favorite.
More Fireworks: Some kid blew up a whole city block in China!
Dragon Dances: Similar to Lion Dances, just a bit different.
Tricky Riddles: Keep your brain sharp for the year ahead.

New Year's End

Contents

・Shifu Says: A brief word from our head teacher, Shifu David Wei.
・The Five Elements: It's our final segment on the Five Elements!
・Reading Recommendations: Want more? Check out these books! 
・The Daoist Calendar: Special holidays and how to observe them.
・Snake Year w/ Seanan: Here's that LIVE New Year talk we did! 

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