Yuan Xiao Jie | 元宵节 | March 3, 2026
As the final chapter of Chinese New Year celebrations draws near, the Lantern Festival — known as Yuánxiāo Jié (元宵节) — arrives to crown the festive season with a blaze of color and light. Falling on the 15th day of the first lunar month, March 3, 2026, this ancient festival marks the first full moon of the new year and the official close of the Year of the Horse’s grand opening celebration.
当农历新年的最后篇章悄然而至，元宵节以万盏灯火为新春画上圆满的句号。农历正月十五，即2026年3月3日，这一承载着千年文化积淀的节日迎来了新年第一个满月之夜，也正式为马年的开篇庆典划下华彩的终点。
At Woooart, we believe the Lantern Festival is not simply a night of pretty lights — it is a profound celebration of reunion, hope, and the luminous spirit that guides us forward. This guide will help you honor the occasion with meaningful decorations, traditional customs, and handcrafted treasures that carry the soul of Chinese culture into your home.
在 Woooart，我们相信元宵节不仅仅是一个灯火璀璨的夜晚——它是一场关于团圆、希望与前行之光的深刻庆典。本指南将带您以富有意义的装饰、传统习俗和手工艺珍品，将中华文化的精髓融入您的生活空间。
The Ancient Soul of the Lantern Festival | 元宵节的千年文化根脉
History and Meaning | 历史与寓意
The Lantern Festival traces its roots back over 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty, when Emperor Ming ordered lanterns to be lit in Buddhist temples to honor the Buddha. Over the centuries, the festival evolved into a beloved folk celebration blending Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian traditions — a night when families walk beneath glowing lanterns, solve riddles written on paper scrolls, and savor sweet tangyuan (汤圆).
元宵节的历史可追溯至两千余年前的汉代。汉明帝下令在佛寺中燃灯供佛，由此开启了这一传统。历经数百年演变，元宵节逐渐融合道教、佛教与儒家文化，成为民间最受欢迎的节日之一——家人在灯火下同行，猜灯谜，品汤圆，共享天伦之乐。
The full moon on this night carries deep symbolic weight. In Chinese culture, the circle represents completeness and reunion (团圆, tuányuán). To celebrate the Lantern Festival is to affirm that what was begun at New Year — new intentions, new relationships, new hopes — is now whole and illuminated.
这一夜的满月承载着深厚的文化象征。在中国文化中，圆代表着圆满与团圆。庆祝元宵节，正是在宣告：新年伊始种下的心愿、情感与希望，已在这一夜得到圆满的照亮。
The Year of the Horse: Lantern Festival with Extra Luminance | 马年元宵：奔腾的灯火
2026’s Lantern Festival carries the unique energy of the Wood Horse. The Horse, in Chinese cosmology, is associated with fire, the south direction, and the color red — making this year’s festival of light particularly resonant. Horse energy is expansive, joyful, and forward-charging: the perfect spirit to carry into a night devoted to illumination.
2026年的元宵节承载着木马年的独特能量。在中国传统文化中，马属火、主南方、色尚红——这使得今年的灯火之夜格外相得益彰。马的气质奔放、喜悦、勇往直前，与这个以光明为主题的夜晚完美契合。
Ancient texts describe the celestial horse as a creature that “runs toward the light.” On Lantern Festival night in the Year of the Horse, every lantern you light is a small act of alignment with the year’s deepest energy.
古籍中描述天马”奔向光明”。在马年元宵之夜，您点亮的每一盏灯笼，都是与这一年最深层能量的一次美好呼应。
Lantern Decorations: Choosing with Intention | 灯笼装饰：以心择物
The Language of Lanterns | 灯笼的语言
Not all lanterns carry the same energy. In Chinese tradition, the style, color, and motif of a lantern communicate specific wishes and blessings:
并非所有灯笼都承载着相同的能量。在中国传统中，灯笼的款式、色彩与图案传递着特定的祈愿与祝福：
- Red lanterns with gold characters (红底金字灯笼) — The classic combination for prosperity and good fortune. The red ground represents joy and protection; gold inscriptions such as 福 (fú, blessing), 喜 (xǐ, happiness), or 马到成功 (mǎ dào chénggōng, success comes like a galloping horse) amplify the year’s energy.
- Round palace lanterns (宫灯) — Inspired by the grand lanterns of the imperial court, these spherical or hexagonal lanterns symbolize the fullness of the moon and the completeness of family reunion. Their silk panels and hand-painted motifs make them heirloom-quality decorations.
- Horse motif lanterns (马纹灯笼) — Especially auspicious in 2026, lanterns featuring galloping horses, the Eight Steeds (八骏), or horseback warriors connect your celebration to the year’s zodiac spirit.
- Lotus lanterns (莲花灯) — Associated with purity, enlightenment, and spiritual renewal, lotus lanterns are particularly meaningful on the night of the first full moon.
红底金字灯笼 — 财富与好运的经典组合，红底寓意喜悦与庇护，金色题字如”福””喜””马到成功”更可放大马年的吉祥能量。宫灯 — 灵感源自皇家宫廷，球形或六棱形的宫灯象征满月的圆融与家族团圆，丝面手绘图案使其成为传家宝级的珍贵装饰。马纹灯笼 — 在2026年尤为吉祥，飞奔骏马、八骏图或骑士图案将您的庆典与马年生肖精神紧密相连。莲花灯 — 象征纯洁、觉悟与精神新生，莲花灯在新年第一个满月之夜意义尤为深远。
How to Arrange Lanterns at Home | 居家灯笼陈设之道
The placement of lanterns follows principles of Chinese feng shui and symbolic numerology:
灯笼的摆放遵循中国风水与数字象征的原则：
- Pairs at the entrance (门口成双) — Hang two matching lanterns on either side of your front door to welcome good fortune and symbolize balanced energy entering the home. For the Year of the Horse, choose lanterns with horse motifs or 马到成功 inscriptions.
- Groupings of eight (八盏为聚) — Eight is the number most associated with prosperity in Chinese culture. A cluster of eight small lanterns arranged around a central point creates a powerful visual and energetic statement.
- Window lanterns (窗前悬灯) — Traditionally, lanterns hung in windows signal to the neighborhood that the household is open to joy and reunion. This custom also echoes the festival’s ancient purpose: guiding the spirits of ancestors home by the light.
- Altar or centerpiece display (中心陈设) — A large palace lantern or cloisonné lantern stand placed at the heart of your living room creates a natural gathering point and reflects the spirit of reunion.
门口成双 — 在门两侧各挂一盏配对灯笼，欢迎好运，象征平衡能量入宅。马年可选马纹或”马到成功”题字款式。八盏为聚 — 八是中国文化中最与财富相关的数字，八盏小灯笼围绕中心点排列，营造强烈的视觉与能量感。窗前悬灯 — 传统习俗中，窗前挂灯向邻里传递家中喜迎团圆之意，也呼应了元宵节引导祖先归家的古老寓意。中心陈设 — 将一盏大型宫灯或景泰蓝灯台置于客厅核心，成为自然的聚集点，映照团圆之意。
Woooart Recommendations: Handcrafted Lantern Festival Treasures | Woooart 精选：元宵节手工珍品
Collectible Antiques & Art Objects | 可收藏文物与艺术品
At Woooart, our curated collection includes genuine antique lantern holders, cloisonné vessels, and hand-painted silk panels — pieces that transcend seasonal decoration to become year-round cultural treasures.
在 Woooart，我们精心策划的收藏涵盖真品古代灯台、景泰蓝器皿以及手绘丝绸挂屏——这些藏品超越了季节性装饰的范畴，成为可全年陈设的文化珍宝。
Our cloisonné lantern stands (景泰蓝灯台) are among our most sought-after pieces. Crafted using the ancient cloisonné (掐丝珐琅) technique that originated in the Yuan Dynasty and flourished under the Ming emperors, each stand features hand-soldered copper wire forming intricate patterns — lotus flowers, cloud scrolls, and auspicious horses — filled with vibrant hand-applied enamel. These are not reproductions; they are original works by master artisans continuing a tradition over 600 years old.
我们的景泰蓝灯台是最受欢迎的藏品之一。采用源自元代、盛于明朝的掐丝珐琅工艺制作，每一件都由匠人手工焊接铜丝、勾勒莲花、云纹与骏马图案，再填涂鲜艳的珐琅彩料。这些并非复制品，而是传承六百余年工艺的大师原创之作。
For the Lantern Festival, we recommend pairing a cloisonné lantern stand with a hand-painted silk panel (手绘丝绸挂屏) featuring lantern festival imagery — floating lanterns on a river, moon goddesses, or horses leaping toward a full moon. These pairings create a cohesive visual narrative of the festival’s spirit.
元宵节期间，我们建议将景泰蓝灯台与描绘元宵节意象的手绘丝绸挂屏搭配陈设——河灯漂流、月下仙子或骏马腾月，构成节日精神的完整视觉叙事。
Customizable Cultural Products | 可定制的中华传统文化产品
One of Woooart’s most distinctive offerings is our custom commission service. For the Lantern Festival and the Year of the Horse, we offer personalization across a range of traditional crafts:
Woooart 最具特色的服务之一是我们的定制委托服务。元宵节与马年期间，我们提供以下传统工艺的个性化定制：
Custom Palace Lanterns (定制宫灯) Our master craftspeople can create bespoke palace lanterns featuring your family name in calligraphy, a personalized poem, or a commissioned painting of your choice — horses, peonies, landscapes, or auspicious symbols. These make extraordinary gifts for milestone celebrations, corporate events, or as a heirloom decoration for your own home.
我们的工匠大师可为您定制专属宫灯，以书法题写您的家族名号、个人诗句，或委托绘制骏马、牡丹、山水、吉祥图案等主题画作。这是里程碑庆典、企业活动或传家宝装饰的非凡礼品选择。
Personalized Spring Couplets & Lantern Riddles (个性化春联与灯谜) The Lantern Festival is inseparable from the art of the lantern riddle (灯谜, dēng mí). We offer custom-commissioned spring couplets and riddle scrolls written by professional calligraphers, tailored to your family’s wishes, values, or a meaningful phrase from the Year of the Horse.
元宵节与灯谜艺术密不可分。我们提供由专业书法家题写的定制春联与灯谜卷轴，可根据您的家族心愿、价值观或马年特定词句量身定制。
Custom Horse-Motif Cloisonné Pieces (定制马纹景泰蓝) Commission a cloisonné vase, incense burner, or decorative plate featuring personalized horse imagery — the Eight Steeds, a single galloping horse with your family name, or a scene from classical Chinese horse painting. Each piece is made to order by artisans in Beijing following centuries-old techniques.
委托定制一件以马为主题的景泰蓝花瓶、香炉或装饰盘——八骏图、题有您家族名号的单骑奔马，或取材于中国古典马画的场景。每件作品均由北京工匠按照数百年传统工艺按需制作。
This cloisonné twin dragon incense burner showcases a classic tripod form adorned with scrolling floral patterns on a turquoise enamel ground. The paired dragons chasing a flaming pearl symbolize harmony, authority, and auspicious fortune. Handcrafted using traditional cloisonné techniques, this piece combines functional elegance with cultural symbolism, making it an ideal collectible for scholars’ studios, tea rooms, and refined interior spaces.
本品为掐丝珐琅双龙纹三足香炉，通体天蓝釉地，满饰缠枝花纹，器腹绘双龙戏珠，寓意权威、和合与吉祥富贵。采用传统掐丝工艺制作，线条细密，釉色温润，兼具焚香实用性与艺术收藏价值，适合书房、茶室及高端陈设空间。
Embroidered Silk Lantern Covers (刺绣丝绸灯罩) For those who wish to create a completely bespoke lantern, our embroidery artisans can hand-stitch custom silk covers with motifs of your choosing. Traditional horse imagery, family crests, or contemporary designs translated into classical Chinese embroidery patterns are all possible.
如果您希望拥有一盏完全独一无二的灯笼，我们的刺绣工匠可为您手工缝制定制丝绸灯罩，图案可自由选择：传统马纹、家族徽记，或将现代设计转化为中国古典刺绣纹样。
Tangyuan: The Taste of Reunion | 汤圆：团圆的滋味
No Lantern Festival is complete without tangyuan (汤圆) — glutinous rice balls filled with sweet sesame, peanut, or red bean paste, served in warm broth. Their round shape mirrors the full moon and embodies the festival’s central theme of wholeness and reunion.
没有汤圆，元宵节便不完整。这些以糯米为皮、包裹芝麻、花生或红豆馅的圆润小球，在温热的汤水中漂浮，其圆形轮廓映照着满月，承载着节日圆满团圆的核心主题。
In the Year of the Horse, consider serving tangyuan in a beautifully appointed ceramic bowl — perhaps one from our collection of hand-painted porcelain bowls (手绘瓷碗) featuring horse motifs or auspicious botanical patterns. The act of eating becomes a ritual, and the vessel becomes a keepsake.
马年元宵，不妨将汤圆盛于精美的手工陶瓷碗中——我们收藏的手绘瓷碗系列提供马纹或吉祥植物图案款式，让进食成为一种仪式，器皿本身成为珍贵的纪念。
Creating Your Lantern Festival Altar | 营造元宵节陈设台
Drawing on the same principles as a Chinese New Year altar arrangement, a dedicated Lantern Festival display can serve as the visual and energetic heart of your home celebration. Here is how to compose one with intention:
参照农历新年神台陈设的原则，专属的元宵节陈列台可成为家庭庆典的视觉与能量核心。以下是有意识地构建陈设的方法：
The Foundation (基底) — Begin with a red or gold silk cloth as the base. Red represents joy and yang energy; gold reflects the moonlight and prosperity.
以红色或金色丝绸作为陈设台的基底。 红色代表喜悦与阳气，金色映射月光与财富。
The Light Source (光源) — Place a cloisonné lantern stand or a pair of red candle holders at the center. This is the heart of your display — the literal embodiment of the festival’s spirit of illumination.
在中心位置摆放景泰蓝灯台或一对红色烛台。 这是陈设的核心，是节日以光明为本的精神体现。
The Horse (马的元素) — Include at least one piece of horse imagery: a hand-painted horse scroll, a cloisonné horse figurine, or a ceramic horse statue. In the Year of the Horse, this is not merely decorative but deeply symbolic — you are honoring the year’s guardian spirit.
加入至少一件马的意象：手绘马卷轴、景泰蓝骏马摆件或陶瓷马雕塑。 马年之中，这不仅是装饰，更是对年度守护精神的致敬。
The Moon (月的意象) — A round mirror, a white jade disc, or a circular white ceramic plate placed behind the light source represents the full moon — the astronomical heart of the Lantern Festival.
在光源后方放置圆形镜子、白玉璧或圆形白瓷盘， 代表满月——元宵节的天文核心。
The Offering (供奉) — A small bowl of tangyuan, fresh tangerines (their golden color echoes the lanterns), or white lotus flowers completes the altar with the energy of nourishment and purity.
以一小碗汤圆、新鲜橘子（金黄色呼应灯笼）或白色莲花完成供奉陈设， 注入滋养与纯洁的能量。
The Lantern Festival as a Living Practice | 元宵节：活着的传统
In a world of fleeting digital celebrations, the Lantern Festival offers something rare: a ritual that engages all the senses. The warmth of candlelight, the aroma of sesame-filled tangyuan, the delicate beauty of hand-painted silk, the playful challenge of a lantern riddle — these experiences cannot be replicated on a screen.
在这个数字化庆典转瞬即逝的世界里，元宵节提供了一种珍稀的体验：调动所有感官的仪式。烛光的温暖、芝麻馅汤圆的香气、手绘丝绸的精致之美、猜灯谜的趣味挑战——这些体验无法在屏幕上复制。
At Woooart, our mission is to make these experiences accessible and meaningful for people everywhere — whether you are celebrating with your family in Shanghai, hosting a Lantern Festival gathering in New York, or simply seeking to bring a moment of authentic beauty into your daily life.
在 Woooart，我们的使命是让这些体验对世界各地的人们都触手可及、意义深远——无论您是在上海与家人团聚，在纽约举办元宵节聚会，还是只是希望为日常生活带来一份真实的美好。
Every piece in our collection — from the antique cloisonné vessels to the custom-commissioned palace lanterns — is a bridge between past and present, between the artisan’s hands and your home, between an ancient festival and the luminous year of the Wood Horse still unfolding before you.
我们收藏中的每一件作品——从古代景泰蓝器皿到定制宫灯——都是连接过去与现在的桥梁，连接着匠人之手与您的家，连接着这一古老节日与眼前仍在展开的木马年。
Quick Guide: Lantern Festival 2026 at a Glance | 元宵节2026速览
| English | 中文 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | March 3, 2026 | 2026年3月3日 |
| Lunar Date | 15th day, 1st lunar month | 农历正月十五 |
| Zodiac Energy | Wood Horse | 木马 |
| Key Symbol | Full Moon & Lanterns | 满月与灯笼 |
| Lucky Colors | Red, Gold, White | 红、金、白 |
| Lucky Numbers | 3, 5, 8 | 三、五、八 |
| Traditional Food | Tangyuan (汤圆) | 汤圆 |
| Key Activities | Lantern viewing, riddle solving, family reunion | 赏灯、猜谜、家族团圆 |
| Horse Auspicious Phrase | 马到成功 (Success gallops in) | 马到成功 |
Explore Woooart’s Lantern Festival Collection | 探索 Woooart 元宵节精选
Whether you are decorating your home, searching for a meaningful gift, or commissioning a bespoke cultural treasure, Woooart’s collection for the 2026 Lantern Festival brings together the finest in Chinese traditional craftsmanship:
无论您是为家居装饰、寻找有意义的礼物，还是委托定制文化珍品，Woooart 2026年元宵节精选汇聚了中华传统工艺的精华：
- Cloisonné lantern stands & vessels | 景泰蓝灯台与器皿
- Hand-painted palace lanterns | 手绘宫灯
- Antique ceramic horse figurines | 古代陶瓷马摆件
- Silk embroidery panels — lantern festival themes | 元宵节主题丝绣挂屏
- Customizable spring couplets & calligraphy scrolls | 可定制春联与书法卷轴
- Hand-painted porcelain tangyuan bowls | 手绘瓷汤圆碗
- Custom commission: cloisonné, embroidery, palace lanterns | 定制服务：景泰蓝、刺绣、宫灯
Visit woooart.com to explore the full collection or inquire about custom commissions.
访问 woooart.com 探索完整收藏或咨询定制服务。
May your Lantern Festival be luminous, your tangyuan sweet, and the Year of the Horse carry you forward toward all that you are reaching for.
愿您的元宵节灯火璀璨，汤圆香甜，马年载您奔向所有心之所向。
— The Woooart Team