Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival closes Lunar New Year with the first full moon, riddles and tangyuan.
Three ways to mark the night
Light the lanterns
Hang paper lanterns and carry small ones through the street. Rabbit lanterns on wheels are a childhood favorite in many towns.
Guess the riddles
Riddles hang from lanterns on slips of paper. Solve one, and by custom you take it to the host for a small prize.
Share the tangyuan
Filled rice balls in hot sweet soup stand for togetherness, since tangyuan sounds close to tuanyuan, reunion.
Moon above the willows, a meeting after dusk.
Setting up at home
Sky lanterns are a fire hazard and are banned in many US states. Check local rules first. Tangyuan are sticky, so cut them small for young children and older guests.
Lantern Festival
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
What is the difference between tangyuan and yuanxiao?
Tangyuan are shaped by hand, with filling wrapped in dough, the southern way. Yuanxiao are northern, made by rolling solid filling in dry rice flour until a ball forms.
When is the Lantern Festival 2027?
The Lantern Festival falls on February 20, 2027. That is the 15th day of the first lunar month and the last day of the New Year season.
Why is the Lantern Festival called Chinese Valentine's Day?
Lantern night was once a rare chance for young men and women to go out and meet. The better-known Chinese Valentine's Day is Qixi, in the seventh lunar month.
