Festival · 节日

Lantern Festival (元宵节)

Sweet rice balls and paper lanterns released to the dark.

The Lantern Festival (元宵节) marks the first full moon of the lunar year and the formal end of the New Year celebrations. Streets fill with red lanterns, families share sweet rice balls (汤圆), and lantern-riddle games invite playful guessing.

When does Lantern Festival fall?

• 2026 — Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (2026年3月3日)
• 2027 — Saturday, February 20, 2027 (2027年2月20日)
• 2028 — Wednesday, February 9, 2028 (2028年2月9日)

Traditions

Tangyuan (汤圆)

Glutinous rice balls filled with sweet sesame, peanut, or red-bean paste. The round shape symbolizes family unity.

Lanterns (灯笼)

Red paper lanterns hang in homes, temples, and along streets. Some carry riddles (灯谜) for passersby to solve.

Lion + dragon dances

Performed in public squares and outside businesses to chase away misfortune and welcome prosperity for the year.

Common questions

What's the difference between Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival?

Both involve full moons but Lantern Festival (lunar 1/15) celebrates the first full moon of spring and the end of New Year, while Mid-Autumn (lunar 8/15) celebrates the harvest full moon in autumn.

Why eat tangyuan?

The round shape echoes the full moon and symbolizes 团圆 (reunion, completeness). Eating them with family on this night is meant to ensure the family stays whole through the year.