The Lantern Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on Jan. 15th of the lunar calendar, marking the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year.

Chinese started to celebrate the Lantern Festival from the Han Dynasty. The 15th day is the first night to see a full moon. According to Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate.

On that day, people eat yuanxiao (tangyuan, glutinous rice ball) and go out at night to temples, parks and mountains to take part in lantern fairs and lantern riddles guessing which has become part of the festival since Tang Dynasty. Riddles written on pieces of paper are posted on lanterns or walls, often messages of good fortune, family reunion, abundant harvest, prosperity and love. People get all their families united in the joyful atmosphere.