Lantern Festival - Chinese

Hello! I am the Chinese Lantern Festival. I am a very special day that comes at the end of the big Chinese New Year celebration. My arrival happens when the moon is big, round, and bright in the night sky. It is the very first full moon of the new year, and my special day marks the end of the New Year fun.

My name tells you how people celebrate! They use beautiful, colorful lanterns to light up the night. People hang them up outside their homes, making everything glow with a soft, warm light. Children and their families carry lanterns in parades after the sun goes down. Some lanterns are simple and round, like little moons. But many others are made in amazing shapes! You might see a lantern that looks like a long, friendly dragon, a fish with shiny scales, or a pretty flower with glowing petals.

When families gather together for my celebration, they share a yummy, sweet treat. This special food is called tangyuan. Tangyuan are little balls made of sticky rice that are soft and chewy. People eat them in a warm, sweet soup. These little rice balls are perfectly round, just like the full moon in the sky. Their round shape is important. It reminds everyone of family being together and staying close to one another. Eating this cozy food is a happy part of my celebration.

Today, when people observe me, they are filling the night with light and happiness. They spend time with their families and share a sweet treat to finish the New Year festival. My glowing lanterns and round tangyuan are all about bringing families together under the first full moon of the year.