Chinese lanterns at the Yuan Xiao festival

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Chinese nation hold a lantern festival to mark the end of a series of celebrations for Chinese New Year. Yuan Xiao, literally translated as “Night of the first lunar month” is the first night of the year to see a full moon, and the party gets going in a big way. Traditional white Chinese lanterns, as well as lanterns shaped as animals and those embellished with writing, detailing good wishes and will for prosperity and luck, are released in their thousands all over the country. This time is a great family occasion, with paper lanterns also being hung outside homes for friends and neighbours to appreciate.
Whilst there are various theories on the origins of the festival, most are agreed that the main ethos is to bring people together in appreciation of family and friends. One legend tells of how Qinshihuang, the first emperor to unite China, ordered celebrations every year to appease Taivi, the God of Heaven, and who had the power to inflict drought, famine or pestilence upon the human race. During the first festivals, Qinshihuang would ask Taivi to bring favorable weather and good health to himself and the people he ruled over.