Hi everyone,
Today is the Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival! This festival is a significant cultural event in several countries, and as such, our offices based in these regions will be out of office today.
About the Lantern Festival:
• The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month, marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
• The festival dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-221 AD).
• It is traditionally celebrated by viewing lanterns, solving lantern riddles, and eating tangyuan, a type of sweet dumpling.
About the lantern lighting tradition:
- Lanterns have both practical and symbolic roles in the festival.
- Originally extended daylight for more celebration time.
- Symbolize shedding darkness and bringing enlightenment.
- Variety of lanterns used, from simple paper to elaborate designs.
- Some lanterns feature riddles for good luck when solved.
- Floating lanterns on water or releasing them skyward are common.
- Each practice has its own set of symbolic meanings, such as guiding spirits or honoring ancestors.
- Serve as a focal point for activities like family time, cultural traditions, and future hopes.
Please note, our offices in the countries observing this holiday will be closed. If you are unsure whether your office observes this holiday, please check with your local People Team.
Happy Lantern Festival!
Thank you,
People Team
Hey everyone,
Happy Lantern Festival! 🏮 Today, we celebrate the Shangyuan Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. This festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which falls today.
About this beautiful festival:
- The Lantern Festival dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 221 AD).
- It's also known as the "Chinese Valentine's Day" as it's a popular day for love confessions.
- The festival is celebrated with various activities such as lantern riddles, lion dances, and eating tangyuan (sweet dumplings).
Fun facts about the tradition of lantern-lighting:
- Lanterns are the real MVPs of the festival, doing double duty: practical and symbolic 🌟.
- Back in the day, they helped us party longer by extending daylight 🌞.
- Now, they're all about pushing away the darkness and bringing in the light and wisdom 🌈.
- You'll see all kinds of lanterns, from basic paper ones to super fancy ones that tell stories 🏮.
- Some even come with riddles to solve, and if you get it right, you're in for some good luck 🍀.
- Floating lanterns or flying lanterns: Each way of using the lantern has its own cool symbolism, like helping spirits find their way or honoring our ancestors 🙏.
Overall, lanterns help us focus on what matters: family, traditions, and hopes for the future 💖.
Please note, our offices in the countries observing this holiday will be closed. If you are unsure whether your office observes this holiday, please check with your local People Team. Let's respect their time off and plan our communications accordingly.
Enjoy the day and lighting up the waters or skies! 🌏💡
Thank you,
People Team
Hi all,
Today, we celebrate the Lantern Festival, also known as Shangyuan Festival. This holiday is observed on the 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.
• The festival dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-221 AD).
• It's traditionally celebrated with lantern displays, riddle-solving, and eating tangyuan (sweet rice balls).
• The lanterns symbolize letting go of past selves and getting new ones, which will be carried on to the next year.
Please note, our offices in the countries observing this holiday will be closed. If you are unsure whether your office observes this holiday, please check with your local People Team.
People Team
Hi everyone,
We are writing to remind you that the Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival, is coming up in about a week.
Please note that our offices located in countries that observe this holiday will be closed in celebration. This includes China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea. If you work with colleagues or teams in these countries, please plan your schedules and deadlines accordingly to accommodate this holiday closure.
Thank you,
People Team
How to celebrate Lantern Festival (Shangyuan Festival) at work
The Lantern Festival, also known as Shangyuan Festival, is a Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar, marking the end of the Chinese New Year period. It is observed in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea, but only China and Taiwan give time off for this holiday.
Recognizing and celebrating diverse holidays like the Lantern Festival in global teams fosters cultural understanding and respect. It promotes inclusivity, boosts morale, and strengthens team cohesion.
Ideas for celebrating at work:
- Organize a lantern-making contest.
- Host a virtual presentation about the festival's history and significance.
- Encourage team members to share their personal experiences or traditions related to the festival.
- Arrange a virtual lantern display or parade.
Inspiration from other companies
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