The 15th day of the 1st month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar means it can only be 元宵節 (Lantern Festival). If you’re asking “I thought it wasn’t till the 23rd this year?” then you’d only be partly right as the Chinese calendar uses astronomical observations from Beijing which is 8 hours ahead of GMT.
In anycase, the 15th day marks the end of the celebrations for Chinese New Year and indeed the first major festival after the Spring Festival, earning it the name “Little New Year”. For Buddhists, the day is also a holiday and likened to the West’s Halloween though instead of little brats out trick or treating, children will go out carrying bright lanterns which in modern times will be more elaborate than those of old and themed on animals and the like for their designs.
The day is also known as “Chinese Valentine’s Day” as this day is one without the usual strict curfews and in days of yore, young people were chaperoned in the streets with the hope of finding love. Being young(ish) and single myself, I’m not quite sure yet exactly what I’ll be doing though the middle cousin 卓兒 (Cheuk Yi) has already offered to come along with me to 維多利亞公園 (Victoria Park) and join in the fun of parading about with lanterns!
