元宵节
Tangyuan Festival
yuánxiāo jié
Celebrated as the end of the New Year cycle with lanterns, riddle games, and glutinous rice balls.
Context
The Tangyuan Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It introduces the first full moon of the year and concludes the cycle of New Year celebrations.
Main Practices
- Public display and observation of lanterns.
- Public riddle games on lanterns, sometimes within families and sometimes in public places.
- Consumption of tangyuan or yuanxiao, round foods associated with the idea of unity.
Regional Nuances
The dessert name often varies by region. In the north, yuánxiāo is more commonly used, while in the south, tāngyuán is more commonly used. Preparation techniques are not strictly identical.
Useful Vocabulary
- 灯笼 dēnglóng : lantern
- 猜灯谜 cāi dēngmí : riddle game on lantern
- 元宵 yuánxiāo : glutinous rice ball (north)
- 汤圆 tāngyuán : glutinous rice ball (south)