The Lantern Festival
Dawn.com
Published
February 4, 2012
![Women dressed in Qing Dynasty royal costumes perform in celebration of the upcoming Lantern Festival inside a shopping mall in Beijing, China. ? AP Photo. Women dressed in Qing Dynasty royal costumes perform in celebration of the upcoming Lantern Festival inside a shopping mall in Beijing, China. ? AP Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/86.jpg)
![A boy stands as his mother buys lanterns ahead of the Lantern Festival at Yu Yuan Garden in downtown Shanghai. ? Reuters Photo. A boy stands as his mother buys lanterns ahead of the Lantern Festival at Yu Yuan Garden in downtown Shanghai. ? Reuters Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/59.jpg)
![Performers dance in celebration of the upcoming Lantern Festival outside a shopping mall in Beijing, China. ? AP Photo. Performers dance in celebration of the upcoming Lantern Festival outside a shopping mall in Beijing, China. ? AP Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/48.jpg)
![People walk at an area decorated with lanterns ahead of the Lantern Festival at Yu Yuan Garden in downtown Shanghai. ? Reuters Photo. People walk at an area decorated with lanterns ahead of the Lantern Festival at Yu Yuan Garden in downtown Shanghai. ? Reuters Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/68.jpg)
![Chinese people perform a dragon dance as they celebrate the traditional lantern festival in Shiqian, southwest China's Guizhou province. ? AFP Photo. Chinese people perform a dragon dance as they celebrate the traditional lantern festival in Shiqian, southwest China's Guizhou province. ? AFP Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/96.jpg)
![A Chinese donkey dance performer walks past an advertisement inside a shopping mall after participating in celebrations for the upcoming Lantern Festival in Beijing, China. ? AP Photo. A Chinese donkey dance performer walks past an advertisement inside a shopping mall after participating in celebrations for the upcoming Lantern Festival in Beijing, China. ? AP Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/106.jpg)
![Elderly dancers perform at a preview show for the Chinese Lantern Festival which falls on February 6 and traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, in Beijing on February 3, 2012. ? AFP Photo. Elderly dancers perform at a preview show for the Chinese Lantern Festival which falls on February 6 and traditionally marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, in Beijing on February 3, 2012. ? AFP Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/126.jpg)
![Elderly dancers perform at a preview show for the Chinese Lantern Festival in Beijing. ? AFP Photo. Elderly dancers perform at a preview show for the Chinese Lantern Festival in Beijing. ? AFP Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/29.jpg)
![Elderly dancers wait to perform at a preview show for the Chinese Lantern Festival in Beijing. ? AFP Photo. Elderly dancers wait to perform at a preview show for the Chinese Lantern Festival in Beijing. ? AFP Photo.](https://i.dawn.com/2012/02/39.jpg)
The Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth of the first lunar month and it marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
On this night, family members will gather together for a reunion dinner and eat “yuan xiao” (a glutinous rice ball).
The most prominent tradition on this day is the displaying of big and bright lanterns as these lanterns are believed to symbolize hope and good luck. – Photos by Agencies.
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