The lantern Festival, marking the end of Chinese New Year celebrations, falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or Match in the Gregorian calendar （February 28 this year）. As early as the Western Han Dynasty, it had become a festival with great significance.

Dragon Dance

There are many different beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival. But one thing for sure is that is had something to do with religious worship. Today, the displaying of lanterns remains a big event on this carnival-like festival. Traditionally, flower markets, restaurants, homes and parks are filled with colorful lanterns in traditional designs （various shapes and sizes）, attracting countless visitors. Extremely excited children hold lanterns to stroll with on the streets for fun. Popularly referred to as Chinese Valentine‘s Day somewhere in China, singles gather to play matchmaking games with the lanterns, to determine who will be their lover.

Festival Lanterns

＂Guessing lantern riddles＂ is an essential part of the Festival Riddles are written on a piece of paper and posted on the lanterns. If visitors crack the riddles, they will get a small gift. Eating the rice dumplings （called ＂yuanxiao＂ or ＂tangyuan＂） is another tradition on the day. That is why the festival is also known as the ＂Yuanxiao Festival＂. The small dumpling balls are made of glutinous rice flour with rose petals, sesame, bean paste, jujube paste, walnut meat, dried fruit, sugar and edible oil as filling - boiled, fried or steamed. ＂Tangyuan＂ in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with ＂tuanyuan＂, meaning reunion. So people eat them to wish union, harmony and happiness for the family.