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Lantern Festival

Date: The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie, marks the end of the Spring Festival and falls on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar.

Myth: During the Han Dynasty and reign of Emperor Wu Di , a pretty palace maid named Yuanxiao was sad and homesick. However, she won the sympathy of a minister named Dongfang Shuo, who, in turn, told the Emperor that the city of Chang'an would be set on fire by the gods on the 16th day of the first month of the lunar year. The only remedy, he suggested, was to let fireworks off and hang red lanterns all over the city. The emperor, consorts and palace maids all came out for the lantern show. The emperor was also told that the gods were partial to the pretty young maid's stuffed dumplings. And so it was. Yuanxiao was allowed home to visit her family and friends. The following year, the emperor again ordered the hanging of the lanterns and making of dumplings, and each year ever after.

Custom: The festival is all about Chinese red lanterns. Some have poems and verse on them, while some have pictures. It is customary during the Lantern Festival for people to enjoy various kinds of lanterns and lots of outdoor fun. Eating yuanxiao or sweet dumplings is another custom. They have many flavors such as sugar, walnuts, sesame, peanuts, beans, chocolate or fruit.