The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie is a traditional Chinese festival, is celebrated on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The festival marks the end of the celebrations of the Chinese New Year. This festival is regarded as a fun family gathering. The biggest attraction on Lantern Festival is the sea of lanterns in every sizes and shapes. On the night of the festival, people go to streets with a variety of lanterns under the full moon, watching lions or dragon dancing, playing Chinese riddles and games, lighting up firecrackers and eating glutinous rice balls called yuanxiao. Besides entertainment and beautiful lanterns, another important part of the Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Festival is eating small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour. Yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls) or Tangyuan is the special food for the Lantern Festival. Yuanxiao is a kind of sweet dumpling, which is made with sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing. Yuanxiao is sticky, sweet and round in shape, symbolizing family unity, completeness, happiness and good luck in the coming New Year. Come and celebrate the Lantern Festival. Together we will learn to make this sweet yuanxiao dumplings and the best part is eating them once we make them. Then, we will take some time making some beautiful and unique paper lanterns. All materials are provided, but please bring an apron and a container. Let’s have some fun!
