Ma Haijie (left) teaches a student how to make a lotus lantern for the Lantern Festival at Beijing International Hotel, Dongcheng district, Beijing, Feb. 23, 2024. [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn]

This year's Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuanxiao Festival, falls on Feb. 24, marking the 15th day of the first month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Traditionally, people usually celebrate it by appreciating lanterns, solving lantern riddles and enjoying delicious sticky rice balls. Additionally, lantern-making has been gaining popularity as a cherished holiday activity.

"I see an increasing number of lantern-making enthusiasts these years, especially during this year's Spring Festival holiday," Ma Haijie, a fourth-generation inheritor of a traditional lantern-making craft known as Lantern Huang, shared with China.org.cn a day before the Lantern Festival.

During the recent Spring Festival holiday, Ma experienced overwhelming enthusiasm from temple fair visitors at his stall, which served as an exhibition of the intangible cultural heritage of lantern making. People were captivated by his lanterns, which varied in shape and color, each carrying an auspicious meaning in its design. Furthermore, he uses common materials for his creations, including paper, thin iron wires, candles, and sticks.

"I have at least three places to go and show people my Lantern Huang craft during Lantern Festival," Ma described, highlighting his busy schedule, especially during the holiday season.  

As times change, traditional lantern-making faces challenges in passing on its legacy. "There was a long period that my master, who was also my great grandfather, couldn't find any apprentice," said Ma. As a huge fan of traditional Chinese culture, Ma felt it was his duty to fulfill the mission as an inheritor of Lantern Huang, so he resigned from his job as a project contractor to be a lantern-making teacher in 2019. 

Ma believes that the key to preserving intangible cultural heritage lies in its passage from generation to generation. "I explored as many ways as I can to popularize the traditional lantern-making craft," said Ma, who now runs a cultural promotion company. His company employs individuals with disabilities and farmers from Hebei province to craft semi-finished lanterns.

Every year, Ma actively participates in intangible cultural heritage educational events in communities and schools, and he promotes traditional lantern-making at various cultural fairs. "I want Lantern Huang to be known and loved by more and more people," said Ma. 

Ma Haijie (second row, center) and lantern-making learners pose for a group photo at a lantern-making event held at Beijing International Hotel, Dongcheng district, Beijing, Feb. 23, 2024. [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn]

Ma Haijie introduces Lantern Huang products to visitors at Nanchizi Art Gallery, Dongcheng district, Beijing, Feb. 23, 2024. [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn]

Visitors learn how to make lotus lanterns for the Lantern Festival at Beijing International Hotel, Dongcheng district, Beijing, Feb. 23, 2024. [Photo by Yan Bin/China.org.cn]

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