[Video by Wang XinQun]

On the evening of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Baihelin Village in Wenjing Town, Pengxi County, Sichuan, was bathed in dazzling lights and filled with joyous laughter. The annual "Sending Off the Toad" folk event was held in grand fashion, carrying the collective hopes for a new year filled with happiness, good health, and prosperity.

As night fell and stars twinkled in the sky, tens of thousands of people—men, women, young and old—held an array of “toad lanterns,” forming what looked like a magnificent “fiery Loong” moving slowly along the countryside paths. These toad lanterns came in various shapes and sizes: some were crafted in the form of zodiac animals, while others bore auspicious patterns, each infused with the maker’s heartfelt wishes and blessings.

When the procession reached the riverside, fireworks erupted in brilliant displays, painting the night sky in a kaleidoscope of colors. Participants carefully placed their “toad lanterns” into the earth, symbolizing the banishment of bad luck and illness while ushering in good fortune and health for the year ahead. The entire scene radiated warmth and festivity, with countless smiling faces brimming with hope for the future—as if, in that moment, all worries had been left behind.

The “Sending Off the Toad” folk tradition dates back to the Qing Dynasty. According to legend, on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, a severe plague would break out across Pengxi County. To ward off the disease, villagers crafted toad lanterns, believing that this act would drive away the so-called “Toad Plague.” Over time, the custom of “Sending Off the Toad” evolved from a ritual to dispel illness and seek divine protection into a tradition symbolizing people’s blessings and aspirations for a better life. In 2018, Pengxi County’s “Sending Off the Toad” festival was officially recognized as part of Sichuan Province’s intangible cultural heritage and remains a significant local event for welcoming the Lantern Festival.

On the day of the celebration, Pengxi County also hosted a range of traditional folk activities, including the “Swinging Tender Bamboo” performance, hands-on toad lantern-making experiences, a mass yuanxiao (glutinous rice ball) tasting event, cultural performances, and an intangible cultural heritage marketplace.