Lantern Festival: Google doodle celebrates the Lunar New Year

This Doodle honors the good fortune that comes with the Lantern Festival. On the 15th day of the first lunar month, people light lanterns and let them float over the sky or across water as part of this event, which officially ends the Lunar New Year celebrations across Asia.

Lantern Festival has been celebrated for over 2,000 years, but its origins are debatable. Many believe that the lantern was the first thing offered to the gods. There is also another popular legend about how townspeople used lanterns to save their villages. The Jade Emperor planned to burn down the city, but the residents used bright red lanterns to make it look like the place was already on fire and left it alone.

Lanterns are known as lucky charms to welcome the new year. People sometimes make wishes while floating lanterns, or write wishes on the lanterns. Some people write riddles on lanterns and let others solve them. Small prizes may be awarded to those who solve the riddle.

Other typical festivals include dragon and lion dances and a variety of delicious sweets. The most traditional dessert is sticky rice balls called tang yun or yun xiao, which are stuffed with jujube paste, brown sugar, and other sweet fillings.

Wishing you a year full of joy and prosperity – Happy Lantern Festival!