Lunar New Year: How did people celebrate the Lantern Festival?

Thousands of people in Taiwan and China took part in celebrations for the Lantern Festival on Wednesday.

The huge event marks the end of the Lunar New Year which has been celebrated by millions of people since Saturday 10 February.

During the festival, crowds release lanterns into the sky, watched epic firework displays, visit cool light installations, and tucked into delicious traditional foods like rice dumplings.

Check out our guide to the Lantern Festival below to find out more.

Lunar New Year celebrations came to an end on Wednesday with a special lantern festival to mark the end of the 15-day period

What is the Chinese Lantern Festival?

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the Spring season in China.

The Chinese Lantern Festival marks the last day of these celebrations.

It takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which this year is 12 February.

What traditions are part of the Lantern Festival?

The dragon is a Chinese symbol of good fortune

People celebrate the Lantern festival by hanging glowing lanterns in temples or carrying them during a night-time parade.

Often in these parades you might see a dragon dance as the dragon is a Chinese symbol of good fortune.

Celebrations also often include fireworks and lots of yummy food.

Small rice balls filled with fruit and nuts called yuanxiao or tangyuan, are traditionally eaten during the festival.

When was the Lantern Festival first celebrated?

The festivals origin has been traced back to 206 bce to 220 ce

Like lots of Chinese celebrations, the Lantern Festival is deeply rooted in tradition.

The festivals origin has been traced back more than 2,000 years.

During this time Buddhist monks would light lanterns on the 15th day of the lunar year in honour of the Buddha.

Later, this was adopted by more of the general population and spread throughout China and other parts of Asia.