This children’s article, Lantern Festival 2026: The glowing finale of Chinese New Year, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and explore one of the most colourful celebrations in the Chinese calendar. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
What is the Lantern Festival?
The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations. In 2026, it will be celebrated on March 3rd, which is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
On this night, families gather to admire glowing lanterns, solve riddles and enjoy special food. Streets, parks and temples are often decorated with bright red lanterns that light up the evening sky.
The festival feels joyful and hopeful. It symbolises reunion, light and the arrival of spring.
How do people celebrate?
One of the most famous traditions is carrying or displaying lanterns. Some are simple and round. Others are shaped like animals, flowers or even characters from stories. Children often carry smaller lanterns as they walk with their families.
Many lanterns have riddles written on them, and people try to guess the answers for fun. Lion dances and dragon dances are also common in some cities, with performers moving through the streets to the beat of drums.
Families also eat a special food called tangyuan. These are sweet rice balls usually filled with sesame or peanut paste. Their round shape represents togetherness and unity.
A festival with a long history
The Lantern Festival has been celebrated for more than 2,000 years. It began during the Han Dynasty. Over time, it grew from a small religious event into a major cultural celebration.
In ancient times, lighting lanterns was linked to respect for ancestors and hopes for good fortune. Emperors ordered grand displays in the capital, and ordinary people joined in the celebrations.
As Chinese communities spread around the world, the Lantern Festival travelled with them. Today, it is celebrated in many countries, bringing colour and light to cities far from its ancient beginnings.
Fun facts about the festival
The Lantern Festival is sometimes called Yuanxiao Festival in Mandarin. The name comes from the word for the sweet rice balls eaten during the celebration.
In some places, enormous lantern sculptures are built. These can be as tall as buildings and take months to design. They often tell traditional stories or show scenes from history.
Although the festival takes place at night, it is full of life and laughter. The glowing lanterns are meant to guide good luck into the year ahead.
Article vocabulary list
- Lunar: Related to the moon.
- Lantern: A light inside a protective covering that can be carried or hung up.
- Riddle: A question or puzzle that needs clever thinking to solve.
- Unity: The state of being joined together or in agreement.
- Dynasty: A series of rulers from the same family.
- Ancestor: A family member from long ago.
- Fortune: Luck or success.Sculpture: A large artwork made by shaping materials such as metal or paper.
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. On which day of the lunar month is the Lantern Festival celebrated?
a) The first day
b) The fifteenth day
c) The thirtieth day
Answer: b) The fifteenth day
2. What special food is often eaten during the Lantern Festival?
a) Dumplings
b) Noodles
c) Tangyuan
Answer: c) Tangyuan
3. What do the round rice balls symbolise?
a) Speed
b) Togetherness
c) Wealth
Answer: b) Togetherness
4. When did the Lantern Festival begin?
a) During the Han Dynasty
b) During the Ming Dynasty
c) In the 1900s
Answer: a) During the Han Dynasty
5. What might people find written on lanterns?
a) Shopping lists
b) Riddles
c) Maps
Answer: b) Riddles
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
