China Festival : Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie is a traditional Chinese festival for people having fun, which is on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year. The festival marks the end of the celebrations of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese started to celebrate the Lantern Festival from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 221 AD). Like most other Chinese festivals, there is also a story behind the Festival. It is also believed that the festival has Taoist origins.

About the Lantern Festival and special sweet

On the night of the Lantern Festival in China main land, people go on streets with a variety of lanterns under the full moon, watching lions or dragon dancing, playing Chinese riddles and games, and lighting up firecrackers. There is really a lot of fun for the all ages of China's people, young or old.

The festival is not well celebrated in the US, though you may find celebrations in some Chinese communities, such as Hsi Lai Temple, Hacienda Heights, California.

Yuanxiao is a kind of sweet dumpling, which is made with sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing.
And the Lantern Festival is named after the famous dumpling. Yuanxiao is sticky, sweet and round in shape, symbolizing family unity, completeness and happiness.
Enjoy the Lantern Festival of China's culture and the yummy Yuanxiao, China's traditional sweet.