The Lantern Festival 元宵節

The Lantern Festival (s-Chinese: 元宵节; t-Chinese: 元宵節; pinyin: Yuánxiāojié) is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Chinese calendar.It is not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is also sometimes known as the “Lantern Festival” in locations such as Singapore, Malaysia. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns (s-Chinese: 猜灯谜; t-Chinese: 猜燈謎; pinyin: cāidēngmí). It officially ends the Chinese New Year.In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, for only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones; in modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs. For example, lanterns are now often made in shapes of animals.The Lantern Festival is also known as the Little New Year since it marks the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year.

2008 Tainan city Lantern Festival