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The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March on the Gregorian calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance.

This day's important activity is watching lanterns. Throughout the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), Buddhism flourished in China. One emperor heard that Buddhist monks would watch sarira, or remains from the cremation of Buddha's body, and light lanterns to worship Buddha on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, so he ordered lanterns to be lit in the imperial palace and temples to show respect to Buddha on this day. Later, the Buddhist rite developed into a grand festival among all citizens and its influence expanded from the Central Plains to the whole of China.

In modern times, the lantern festival is still held each year around the country. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors. Children will hold self-made or bought lanterns to stroll with on the streets, extremely excited.

"Guessing lantern riddles" is an essential part of the Festival. Lantern owners write riddles on pieces of paper and post them on the lanterns. If visitors have solutions to the riddles, they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check the answers. If they are right, they will get a little gift. The activity emerged during people's enjoyment of lanterns in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it has become popular among all social strata.

In the daytime of the Festival, performances such as a dragon lantern dance, a lion dance, a land boat dance, a yangge dance, walking on stilts, and beating drums while dancing will be staged. On the night, in addition to magnificent lanterns, fireworks form a beautiful scene. Most families save some fireworks from the Spring Festival and light them during the Lantern Festival. Some local governments will even organize fireworks parties. On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year, people get lost in the celebration with the imposing fireworks and bright moon in the sky.

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