RED LANTERN IN SHPE OF GOLDFISH
As the Chinese Spring Festival approaches, the long streets are aglow with brilliant lights, filled with the hustle and bustle of people. The lanterns shine like twinkling stars in the night sky, illuminating countless beautiful and unforgettable nights.
The fish lantern has a long history, originating from ancient sacrificial activities to pray for favorable weather and a good harvest in the coming year. Fish, as aquatic creatures with strong reproductive capabilities and vigorous vitality, have been endowed with auspicious meanings such as “abundance every year” and “wealth and prosperity.” Thus, the tradition of making fish lanterns to express people’s wishes was born.


The process of red fish lantern
The craftsmanship of making fish lanterns is exquisite and complex. Typically, the lanterns are made with bamboo strips bound together to form the frame, covered with white paper or white gauze, and then painted with patterns like fish scales. These patterns are not only aesthetically pleasing but also rich in symbolic significance. In recent years, while preserving traditional craftsmanship, fish lanterns have been innovated. For example, cotton paper has been replaced with durable fabric, and candles with colorful light bulbs, making the lanterns more robust, durable, and modern.
Lantern uses


The fish lantern is not only a handicraft but also a symbol of culture. It carries the Chinese people’s longing for a better life and their prayers. In many places, fish lanterns are closely connected with local folk activities. In some areas, the custom of dancing with fish lanterns is a collective expression of fishermen’s joy over a bountiful catch and their aspiration for a better life. Every Lantern Festival, villagers dance with lanterns of various sizes, moving through the streets and alleys. This tradition has been passed down for hundreds of years. The dance routines of fish lanterns are diverse, including “Carp Waving Its Tail,” “Two Fish Competing for Food,” “Carp Playing in Water,” and “Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate.”


Chinese people believe that touching the head of the fish brings no worries in life, touching the body brings lifelong happiness, and touching the tail brings smooth sailing. As a treasure of Chinese traditional culture, the fish lantern embodies people’s aspirations and prayers for a better life. With its unique shape, exquisite craftsmanship, and rich folk connotations, it shines brightly through the ages. We should cherish this cultural heritage and strive to inherit and promote the culture of fish lanterns, allowing them to continue to shine on the stage of the new era and convey auspiciousness and beauty.

