Lantern Festival

Brief Introduction

The Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year in the Chinese calendar. The Lantern Festival is also known as the Little New Year since it marks the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns.

In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, for only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones. However, in modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs. For example, lanterns are now often made in shapes of animals. The Lantern Festival is also known as the Little New Year since it marks the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year.

In some region and countries, this festival is also regarded as the Chinese version of St. Valentine's Day, a day celebrating love and affection between lovers in Chinese tradition and culture.