A Brief Introduction of the Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival occurs on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month according to the old Chinese calendar，when a full moon provides enough light for the various ceremonies and activities traditionally held throughout China.Customarily，family members reunite for a meal of Yuanxiao，round，sweet dumplings made ofglutinous rice flour served in soup，which symbolize a wish for the family’s happiness and good luck all year.

Celebrating with Lanterns

The Lantern Festival is a traditional festival in China.The way of making lanterns differs according to the natural environment.Lanterns are different in the north and the south.In Northern Shanxi Province，women in the countryside use sorghum stalks to make lantern frames，then they paste red paper on the frames.In this way，they make all sorts of lanterns，such as pumpkin lanterns，persimmon lanterns and sheep lanterns.They also cut potatoes into a bowl shape.Then they put oil into the bowl-shaped potatoes and place lampwick in them and cover the potatoes with red paper lampshades.People hang red lanterns over the gates of their cave dwellings.

Willow trees are also decorated with coloured paper.Red lanterns are hung here and there on willow trees.The trees are called lantern trees or spark trees.

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