Lighting up the night

Romantic Lantern Festival brightens people’s lives, start of splendid new year

The Lantern L Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month mo marks the final stop of the Spring Sp Festival and is also the fifirst first night when a full moon is s visible during d the lunar new year. Since Sinc ancient times, lantern viewewing has long been a folk custom in celebrating celebratin the Lantern Festival. On the day of the festival, f streets and alleys are decorated with wit lights, and families gather together to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival. A series of classic delicacies and celebrations also appear in turn, extending the joy and beautiful wishes for the future that the new n year brings.

In Linghu town, Huzhou city in East China’s Chin Zhejiang Province, a Lantern Folk Culture Cultur Festival is held around the Lantern Festival. The event features traditional handicraft lantern exhibitions, riddle guessing and firework setting activities, creating a rich festive atmosphere.

Zhengzhou in Central China’s Henan Province will hold drone shows for three consecutive days to celebrate the Lantern Festival, presenting various themes to show the splendid culture of China and the Year of the Dragon. In Beijing, before the Lantern Festival, traditional stores experienced long queues as people followed tradition to buy tangyuan, also called yuanxiao, which are glutinous rice balls stuffed with filling representing families getting together.

Beijing’s famous dim-sum chain Daoxiangcun introduced a dozen of flavors of this snack this year, including black sesame, osmanthus hawthorn, traditional mixed nuts, cream cocoa, and custard, satisfying the popular tastes favored by different people. Moreover, there were two types of tangyuan specially prepared for customers who prefer low-sugar flavors, accordording to the Beijing News.

After Spring Festival celebrations around the world, the Lantern Festival has also gained ground overseas. New Zealand

held Lantern Festival activities on

Thursday at the Manukau Sports Bowl in Auckland, with 44 stalls and over 500 lanterns making a splendid appearance. At this year’s celebration, a handmade dragon lantern was particularly noteworthy – about 30 meters long, it was displayed next to the main stage, according to the China News Service.

Photo: VCG Photo: VCG Photo: VCG Foreign students tatake a selfie with the lanterns they just made in Zhenjiang, East China’s Jiangsu Jiangs Province on February 20, 2024. A cook makes yuanxiao in Jinfang Yuanxiao restaurant in Beijing on February 22, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT Residents guess riddles, a traditional activity on Lantern Festival, in a community in Shenyang, Northeast China’s Liaoning Province on February 23, 2024. People perform a dragon dance in Liulong Ancient Town to welcome the Lantern Festival in Bijie, Southwest China’s Guizhou Province on February 18, 2024.

Photo: VCG Photo: VCG People stroll under colorful lights in Ji’an city, East China’s Jiangxi Province on February 20, 2024. A villager makes a lantern for the Lantern Festival in Longjiang town, Qionghai city of South China’s Hainan Province on February 18, 2024.