Feast of Lanterns

  • Buddhist festivals

    TITLE: Buddhism: Anniversaries
    SECTION: Anniversaries
    The three major events of the Buddha’s life—his birth, enlightenment, and entrance into final nirvana—are commemorated in all Buddhist countries but not everywhere on the same day. In Theravada countries the three events are all observed together on Vesak, the full moon day of the sixth lunar month (Vesakha), which usually occurs in May. In Japan and other Mahayana countries,...
  • Korean performing arts

    TITLE: Korean performing arts: Koryŏ period
    SECTION: Koryŏ period
    The two major court festivals at which performances were held during the Koryŏ period (935–1392) were Buddha’s birthday, or the Feast of Lanterns, in the second lunar month, and the midwinter ceremony honouring spirits of local gods. Dances and masked plays from Silla times were carefully preserved and performed on these occasions in a specially decorated and candlelit ceremonial...