Introduction to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month: The origins and legends of the Lantern Festival, selected poetry of the Lantern Festival, and customs of the Lantern Festival. Every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month, just after the Spring Festival, the traditional Chinese festival - the Lantern Festival - is celebrated. The first month of the lunar calendar is called the "Yuan" month, and ancient people referred to night as "xiao," hence the name Yuanxiao Festival for the 15th day of the first month. The 15th day of the first month is the first full moon night of the year, marking the beginning of a new cycle and the return of spring, which people celebrate as an extension of the Spring Festival celebrations. The Lantern Festival is also known as the "Shangyuan Festival."