Lantern Festival
3 March 2026 · movable holiday — Solve my riddle and have a sweet yuanxiao dumpling!
The Lantern Festival, known as Yuanxiao, falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar and closes the New Year celebrations. It is the first full moon of the year, so the night sky is a key part of the festival. Its origins are traditionally linked to the Han dynasty, and the lantern custom developed and spread over the following centuries. Streets, parks and temple courtyards glow with thousands of lanterns in all kinds of shapes. A popular tradition is the lantern riddle: riddles are written on slips of paper attached to lanterns, and those who solve them sometimes win a small prize. The festival food is yuanxiao (also called tangyuan), sweet glutinous rice balls with fillings such as sesame or red bean. Their round shape stands for togetherness and family unity. In many places lion and dragon dances are performed as well. Because the date follows the lunar calendar, it shifts each year in our calendar, usually landing in February or early March.
Flying across the sky: An ethereal, bluish-silver star figure made of bright dots and fine lines, like a constellation drifting across the sky: a round hanging lantern with a little tassel and a tiny riddle scroll, glowing softly
Sources
Positions in Astronativa are astronomically exact. The interpretation is for inspiration. · Glossary · Terms · Privacy · Thank you