Yeondeunghoe

origins and history

The roots of the festival trace back to the Palgwanhoe ceremonies in 551 during the reign of King Jinheung. Historical documents from 866 record a celebration at Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju during the Silla Dynasty. In that era, the festival merged Buddhist offerings of light with rituals honoring the dragon god to safeguard the country and its harvest. The festival opens with the ceremonial washing of an infant Buddha statue, where participants use a special ladle to pour water over the sculpture's head and shoulders.

making the lanterns

Craftspeople build intricate lantern frames using split bamboo or flexible aluminum wire, binding the joints with paper tape. The framework is sheathed in silk or Hanji, a resilient handmade paper produced from mulberry bark. The paper sheets are trimmed and glued over every opening to withstand outdoor conditions. In community classes and private residences, people also make simpler lotus lights by affixing hand-twisted, dual-colored tissue petals in circular layers onto round white globes. While wax candles were once placed inside, battery-operated light-emitting diodes are standard today.

designs and meaning

The lotus flower is the central motif of Yeondeunghoe, representing dignity, the sublime, and spiritual awakening in Buddhist practice. Beyond the lotus, lanterns depict fish, drums, cranes, tigers, phoenixes, and sailing vessels with moving parts. Modern displays have also featured cartoon figures and King Sejong presenting the Korean alphabet. Participants carry and display these glowing creations as symbols of shared joy, light, and unity. The event brings people of different backgrounds together, setting aside social divides to wish well-being for all.

modern parades

The festival takes place nationwide, with its largest procession filling the Jongno area of Seoul around Jogyesa, the head temple of the Jogye Order. International cultural ties have also been marked in the procession, such as in 2005 when lanterns from Akita, Aomori, and Yamagata in Japan joined the Korean parade. In modern history, street parades in Jongno were cancelled only four times, including during martial law declarations in 1961 and 1980, a traffic dispute in 1970, and the health crisis of 2020.

How Yeondeunghoe is kept

Yeondeunghoe begins with a ritual bathing ceremony, where worshippers spoon water over the head and shoulders of a baby Buddha statue. Families and neighbours gather in workshops to craft lotus blossoms from twisted tissue paper and assemble larger frames using Hanji paper and wire. At night, illuminated lanterns are placed in temples and private houses, while crowds carry thousands of glowing creations through city streets during large public parades. Participants walk together regardless of social background to enjoy the lights and offer wishes of peace and happiness.

When and where

The festival takes place once a year on the eighth day of the fourth month according to the Korean lunar calendar, matching the celebration of the Buddha's birthday.

Yeondeunghoe is observed throughout South Korea. The largest and most prominent gathering takes place along the streets of the Jongno District in central Seoul, near Jogyesa Temple.

What Yeondeunghoe means

The lanterns stand for light, hope, and unity. The prominent lotus blossom embodies spiritual awakening, dignity, and the sublime in Buddhist thought. Gathering beneath the illuminated lanterns represents the removal of social boundaries, inviting people to share goodwill and hope for personal and communal happiness.

Days Yeondeunghoe is marked

Questions people ask about Yeondeunghoe

See also

Buddha's BirthdayA festival marking the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, observed across Asia with temple rituals and community gatherings.HaenyeoFemale free-divers of Jeju Island who harvest seafood from the ocean.Double Ninth FestivalAn autumn festival of mountain walks, chrysanthemum wine and ancestor remembranceEid al-FitrThe feast that ends Ramadan, opened with morning prayers, sweets and visits home

Good reading and sources

• Yeondeunghoe, lantern lighting festival in the Republic of KoreaUNESCO, Heritage listing
• Yeondeunghoe, lantern lighting festival in the Republic of KoreaUNESCO, Article

• Yeondeunghoe on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.