中國的燈籠，不僅是用以照明，它往往也是一種象徵、文化的符號。
年節時家家門口總會掛起圓圓的大紅燈籠。習俗上紅燈籠都是從小年夜就開始掛了起來，直到正月十五日 

Chinese lanterns are more of a symbol of this ancient civilization than merely a tool of lighting. During this annual festival season, every family hangs a big red lantern somewhere in front of their house. It has been made a norm to do so from Lantern Festival and to somewhere around the January 15th in the Chinese or lunar calendar.