Buddhist History

• The Lantern Festival dates back to a time in Chinese history when its Emperors were trying to spread the practice of Buddhism. On the 15th day of the first lunar month, Buddhist monks would light lanterns to honor the Buddha. During the 1st century A.D., the Emperors of the Han Dynasty prompted the people to hang lit lanterns outside their homes. The people didn't initially embrace the practice, but over the centuries it's grown and evolved a great deal.
  
  

Yuanxiao

• Yuanxiao is a traditional food that's eaten during the Lantern Festival. A yuanxiao (or tangyuan) is a dumpling that's made from a gluttonous rice dough. The filling of this treat can be either salty or sweet. There are a great many ingredients that can be used as filling; everything from red bean paste, to rose petals or orange peels, and also meat. Once filled, the rice balls can be either boiled, steamed or deep fried.
  
  

Riddles

• Another important part of the Lantern Festival involves solving riddles. These riddles are written directly onto the lanterns and the answers are often very difficult to figure out. There are three parts to each riddle: the riddle, the suggest and the answer. Discovering the answer to these riddles can sometimes be as difficult as shooting or fighting a tiger, hence the riddles' other name: tiger riddles. The fact that a single Chinese character can have multiple meanings is what makes the riddles often difficult to decipher.
  
  

Dragon Dance

• One of the staples of the Chinese Lantern Festival is the Dragon Dance. Like the festival itself, the Dragon Dance dates back to the Han Dynasty and is an important symbol of the new year. The recommended length of a dragon is 112 feet and takes nine people to manipulate, but they can be much longer. The dragon is an important symbol in Chinese culture, and represents such things as power and courage.
  
  

Evolving Festival

• The format of the Chinese Lantern Festival has changed a great deal over the centuries. Under the control of differing dynasties, the festival lasted anywhere from three to 10 days and attracted envoys from many countries. From its humble beginnings with lanterns decorating households, in modern China (and around the world) entire parks are lit up like starry skies. The core of the festival has remained relatively unchanged; it's a time for families to gather together.