One of the earliest events that Genshin Impact introduced was is the Lantern Rite Festival, in conjunction with Xiao's release back in January and February 2021. Needless to say, that was a busy time. Players were scrambling to nab those precious Primogems to wish for Xiao, while also going through the extensive quests and busywork that the event brought about.
This likely left many players less appreciative of the Lantern Rite Festival, especially those who cared more about the rewards. That's a shame, since it's one of the most familiar and well-intentioned events in Genshin Impact with many similarities to some real-world festivals. To appreciate the bygone event better, here are some facts players should know about it.
9 Each Lantern Represents A Wish
Some players might wonder: why the need for so many lanterns? Each lantern in the Lantern Rite Festival represents a wish. It just so happens that Liyue is a highly populated place, and each person has their own wish to make.
Those wishes can be anything, but they're mostly about positive things and, as with the spirit of the said festival, nothing too selfish. After all, the Lantern Rite Festival is mostly spent with loved ones, particularly family and friends.
8 It Honors A Deceased Adeptus
The main reason the Lantern Rite Festival takes place is to honor a certain Adeptus named Skybracer. Skybracer was one of the stalwart guardians of Liyue, who fought in the Archon War. During the battle, another god slashed Mt. Tianheng, leaving it poised to collapse into the village underneath.
Skybracer selflessly sacrificed his antlers (a gift from Morax) in order to prevent Mt. Tianheng from fully collapsing. Even with no antlers and a bleeding head, Skybracer continued to fight the other god until he died of blood loss. The Lantern Rite Festival commemorates Skybracer's sacrifice, and seeks to teach people of his values.
7 Players Can Keep Their Lanterns Even After The Event
The lanterns that the players get to make or keep in the Lantern Rite Festival can be stored and kept in the inventory for safekeeping. Turns out, the lanterns don't expire at all, and players can use them long after the event is over.
They have no practical use in gameplay, but they're beautiful nonetheless and are perfect for photo ops in Genshin Impact. Also, the fact that they don't expire in the inventory could be a strong indication that the Lantern Rite Event might come back around the same time next year.
6 It's Liyue's Version Of Lunar New Year
Another telltale sign this event might recur is that it's essentially the Lunar New Year in the world of Teyvat or in Liyue itself. The Lantern Rite Festival was also released and celebrated around the same time as the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Both the Lantern Rite Festival and the Lunar New Year share similar themes; however, the latter has more aspects than friendship or the sacrifice of a single being. For many players, the Lantern Rite Festival felt like a cross between Christmas and Lunar New Year due to the values it features.
5 There's Also A Real Life Lantern Festival
On a similar note, there is also a section of the Lunar New Year that directly inspired the Lantern Rite Festival. It's called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated shortly before or after the actual Lunar New Year, around January 15.
Much like the Lantern Rite Festival, the Lantern Festival concludes with a spectacular light show. Lanterns are everywhere, and each of them represents something good. Some also contain riddles and other symbolism. This celebration is most common in East Asia.
4 The Festival Is About Peace And Unity
Lantern Festivals in real life are about wholeness and sometimes reconciliation, and Genshin Impact's Lantern Rite Festival doesn't stray too far from these ideals. The Lantern Rite Festival brings the people of Liyue together, to enjoy the future that Skybracer gave them.
It also tasks the players in trying to get Xiao to join the festival, since no soul should be left behind. It's a friendly event; after all, the main ideas it honors unity and peace. Those values explain the warmth of the festival's conclusion.
3 It Involves 43 NPCs From Liyue
As expected, many quests make up the bulk of the Lantern Rite Festival. Most of them are requests that reward the Xiao Lanterns, and are small tasks that require players to give flowers to NPCs and other needy characters.
As it turns out, many NPCs are involved in the Lantern Rite Festival. Around 55 citizens in Liyue are sure to pester the players with either dialogue or input regarding the event. Out of all these, 43 are a staple part of the quests, ensuring that nearly everyone in Liyue Harbor is part of the celebration.
2 Playable Character Participation Was Low
However, not all characters in Liyue are participating in the festival. Compared to other events, there's actually a distinct lack of playable characters in the event. The main focus, it seems, is Xiao and how he's supposed to be included in the festivity.
Beyond that, playable character appearances are sparse, especially when compared to older events or even the Windblume Festival. The result is that the Liyue character dynamics are explored a lot less compared to other events.
1 It Wasn't That Well-Received
Many players didn't find the Lantern Rite Festival as exciting as the previous events. Other events such as Fischl's or even Mona's were more interactive, and didn't involve tons of fetch quests from random NPCs.
Another gripe that many players had was with the execution. The Lantern Rite Festival seemed endearing and heartfelt in the trailers, but there was only one moment where that was fulfilled in a final cutscene. The majority of the event involved too much grinding. Thankfully, the Windblume Festival seems to have improved upon the Lantern Rite Festival's shortcomings.