The Lunisolar New Year holidays come to their end in China with the Yuan Xiao (元宵节 / yuán xiāo jié), or Lantern Festival.
Began over 2000 years ago, and linked to Emperor Ming (28 – 75) of the Han Dynasty, the festival has many meanings in Chinese culture. It celebrates family and its unity, and society. It also features ancient spiritual traditions.
Lion dance (舞獅), Walking on stilts (踩高蹺), Riddle games (猜燈謎), Dragon dances (耍龍燈), Moon gazing (赏月), and, of course, lighting lanterns (点亮灯笼) are the typical activities performed during the festival days.
People usually eat glutinous rice balls typically filled with sweet red bean paste, sesame paste, or peanut butter called Tangyuan (湯圓) (in Southern China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia) or Yuanxiao (元宵) (in Northern China).
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