The Lantern Festival (or Yuan Xiao Festival) is an important traditional Chinese festival, which is on the 15th of the first lunar (农历) month. It also marks the end of Spring Festival. This year, it falls on February 26th.
The Lantern Festival is a time for people to have fun. At night, people go to streets, watching lanterns, guessing lantern riddles and releasing (放) sky lanterns or river lights. And all the family members get together to enjoy the special food called Yuan Xiao.
Watching lanterns is the most popular things to do during the festival. Lanterns are made in the shape of different animals, fruits, vegetables and other things. Riddles are written on pieces of paper and posted on the lanterns. Rabbit lanterns with wheels are fun for children. Why? It might have something to do with a Chinese folk story about a jade rabbit (玉兔) that lives on the moon. People hold Lantern Festival on the first full moon of the year, so rabbits are a big part of the festival as well.
In some places, people like releasing sky lanterns (Kongming lanterns). A sky lantern is a small hot air balloon made of paper, with a small fire at the bottom. When the bright lanterns fly high in the sky, people make wishes for their family members. Releasing river lights is also a way to give wishes to each other. Usually, the lights are in the shape of a lotus(莲花).
Another important tradition for the Lantern Festival is eating small round dumpling balls called Yuan .Xiao or Tang Yuan. The dumplings are as big as ping-pong balls. The fillings inside are sweet or salty, which differ from northern to southern China. Guizhou is famous for Yuan Xiao made with chicken. Today, you can also find some strange fillings, such as chocolate and fruit. Anyway,Yuan Xiaohas always been a symbol of happiness and unity in China.
