Chinese Lantern Festival Traditions 元宵節

Day 15 of the Chinese Lunar New Year

This day is known as the Chinese Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuanxian Festival 元宵節. It is also the day that marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Here are several traditional practices that are followed to this day. 

Eat Tang Yuan 汤圆

Tang Yuan 汤圆 is a sweet glutinous rice ball boiled in sweet syrup or soul. Its pronunciation is similar to tuanyan 团圆, which means 'reunion' and 'completeness. The round shape of the balls and bowls symbolizes wholeness and togetherness. It is also known as YuanXiao 元宵.

Watch Lion and Dragon Dances

Performances of the Lion and Dragon dances are said to bring good luck and prosperity on this day.

Hanging Lanterns

What is a lantern festival without lanterns? 

Hang colourful lanterns in homes, streets and temples to symbolize hope for a bright future and ward off evil spirits,

Solve Lantern Riddles

This tradition started in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). You can write riddles on lanterns and have people guess the answers.

Here is one

When you draw it, it's round.

When you write it, it's rectangular.

It's short in winter.

It's long in summer.

The answer is sun -- 日 in Chinese.

Which traditions would you follow today?