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Lantern Festival

Time: The 15th of January according to the Chinese lunar calendar
In China, there are several important traditional festivals that already become a cultural symbol of Chinese people and one of them is Lantern Festival. Although it started from long time ago, today Lantern Festival still holds every year around the whole country.

Description about Lantern Festival
Lantern Festival is a festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in lunar calendar. It is also known as Chap Go Meh festival among Chinese people outside China such as, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It marks the end of New Year celebration, also the first time to see a full moon of that year in Lunar Calendar. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns.

The Tradition of Lantern Festival
People will appreciate lanterns and eating Tang Yuan as well as gathered together with some member of family, a reunion.
Lanterns
Watching lanterns and eating Tang Yuan are the most important activities and become the traditions of celebrations on this day. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets and really look so bright with a candle inside. It has attracting countless people to see. Lantern symbolic of good luck and hope, it believe that people will receive good luck and hope in the next whole year for celebrate this traditional Chinese festival.

Eating Yuanxiao (Tangyuan)
Besides the lanterns another tradition that Chinese people could not miss is eating tangyuan or also called yuanxiao. It is a glutinous rice ball, first made 800 years ago, and eaten on the fifteenth day of the lunar New Year. Tangyuan can be boiled, fried or steamed. It tastes sweet and delicious. What is more, tangyuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with "tuanyuan", meaning reunion.
The Chinese people believe the round shape of the balls, and the bowls in which they are served symbolize family togetherness. Besides that, eating tangyuan may bring the family happiness and good luck in the next year. Enjoy a family reunion and eating tangyuan together will make a perfect atmosphere to celebrate this Lantern Festival.

Appreciating the beautiful lanterns lights, eating tangyuan and do reunion with family are the tradition of Chinese celebrate the Lantern Festival.