Ming's Lantern Festival

Ming sat perfectly still at the table, as instructed. That is, the top half of her body was still. Her feet were dancing wildly under the table. Ming couldn't wait to start, but she knew she should be patient. It was her first time to help make dumplings for the festival.

The Lantern Festival, a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year, was always a day of fun. It marked the end of New Year celebrations. On festival night, people filled the streets with colorful lanterns and sparkling fireworks. Firecrackers would sound throughout the night. Ming couldn't wait to be a part of it all.

"Gather the rice flour and sugar," said Ming's mother. "I will get the other ingredients for the recipe."

The recipe was one of Ming's favorite treats. She and her mother were making Yuanxiao, the traditional food for the festival. She loved rolling the balls of dough to get them ready for the boiling water. The dough became sweet, delicious dumplings as they cooked. That was the part Ming enjoyed most, but her Aunt Li told her that Yuanxiao was more than just a good treat to eat. It was also a symbol of family unity and happiness.

"Ming, knead the dough well, so there will be no lumps."

Ming's mother had told her that if there were no lumps in the sweet dough, there would be no lumps in her family. Ming smiled to herself and tried not to show how important she felt to work beside her mother.

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When the Yuanxiao was finished, the lanterns needed to be hung. Each year, paper lanterns decorated the streets for the end of the Chinese New Year. Some families put riddles on their lanterns, and the first person to solve each riddle got a reward. Ming loved the beautiful colors and fun shapes.

Some lanterns were wild beasts or dragons. Others were birds or other animals. Lanterns were symbols of the lengthening spring days that followed the long winter. Lanterns had a special purpose. The lantern's light was thought to call good spirits. Many families wrote on their lanterns to keep away bad spirits.

Ming had worked all year, fashioning her lantern. It was a beautiful bird with brightly colored red and orange wings. She was excited to imagine her lantern decorating their home. When Mother had helped, they talked of how her bird would soar to its place of honor on the light pole outside.