Lantern Festival Yuan Xiao Festival 2024 in Yantai, China

The Chinese Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Festival) is held in China annually on the last day of the Chinese New Year - the 15th day of the first lunar month according to the Chinese calendar. There are numerous theories and legends about the origin of the festival. It is possible that originally it was a holiday in honor of Buddha. Along the streets and in public places, lanterns (usually red) will be installed, which today, compared to traditional Chinese lanterns made of paper and bamboo, have become more complex and varied in size, design, color, shape (from geometric to the shape of animals, gods). On the streets brightly lit by lanterns, music sounds, colorful traditional dances and performances take place, including a lion dance, a dragon dance, an ancient fun game of solving riddles attached to lanterns (mainly from the books of Chinese classics) is held with the presentation of gifts to those who guessed it, here you can have a specially prepared snack for the festival, Yuanxiao dumplings - balls of glutinous rice flour filled with sweet or salty fillings of sesame paste, nuts, red beans, minced meat, vegetables - release burning lanterns into the night sky.In China, the Lantern Festival is traditionally celebrated with family and closest people, but for young people this day is also considered a romantic holiday for lovers, Chinese Valentine's Day, when you can confess your feelings, have a romantic dinner, walk along the streets illuminated by hundreds of burning lanterns

Booth Construction at Lantern Festival Yuan Xiao Festival