1.
The Lantern Festival takes
place on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar to mark the
first full moon of the Chinese year and the coming of Spring.
2.
This festival dates
back more than 2,000 years and involves global celebrations involving
light displays and the launching of thousands of sky lanterns.
3.
The lanterns are released
to represent the longer daylight hours and the light from the full moon.
4.
The festival has long
been the Chinese equivalent of the West's Valentine's Day since it was one
of the few days single women were allowed to leave the house unaccompanied.
5.
In
addition to lanterns, this festival is celebrated by lion and dragon dances as
well as the eating of dumplings made from rice flour – called
tangyuan.
