The New Year season ends on the fifteenth night of the first month with 元宵节 (yuán xiāo jié), the Lantern Festival; in 2027 it falls on Saturday, February 20. Families eat 汤圆 (tāng yuán), sweet rice balls whose round shape stands for being together, admire 花灯 (huā dēng) lanterns under the first full moon of the year, and guess 灯谜 (dēng mí), riddles written on the lanterns. This worksheet practices twelve festival words with pinyin above 田字格 (tián zì gé) tracing grids, then adds six classic character riddles: two moons side by side make 朋 (péng, friend), and sun next to moon makes 明 (míng, bright). Trace each word, write it from memory, then play the riddles as a class game. Print it free or save the PDF for the last night of the New Year.
Lantern Festival words
Lantern Festival words| Chinese | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|
| 元宵节 | 元宵節 | yuán xiāo jié | Lantern Festival |
| 元宵 | 元宵 | yuán xiāo | Lantern Festival; filled rice balls |
| 汤圆 | 湯圓 | tāng yuán | sweet rice balls |
| 正月十五 | 正月十五 | zhēng yuè shí wǔ | 15th day of the first lunar month |
| 灯笼 | 燈籠 | dēng long | lantern |
| 花灯 | 花燈 | huā dēng | decorated lantern |
| 赏灯 | 賞燈 | shǎng dēng | to admire the lanterns |
| 灯谜 | 燈謎 | dēng mí | lantern riddle |
| 猜灯谜 | 猜燈謎 | cāi dēng mí | to guess lantern riddles |
| 月亮 | 月亮 | yuè liang | moon |
| 团圆 | 團圓 | tuán yuán | family reunion |
| 舞龙 | 舞龍 | wǔ lóng | dragon dance |
Six lantern riddles (灯谜 dēng mí)
Each clue describes how to build one character. Guess first, then show the answer.
- 两个月亮 (liǎng gè yuè liang, Two moons): 朋 péng, friend. Put two 月 side by side and you get 朋.
- 日月同辉 (rì yuè tóng huī, Sun and moon shine together): 明 míng, bright. 日 next to 月 makes 明.
- 半个月亮 (bàn gè yuè liang, Half a moon): 胖 pàng, chubby. 半 (half) next to 月 (moon) makes 胖.
- 一口咬掉牛尾巴 (yì kǒu yǎo diào niú wěi ba, A mouth bites off the ox's tail): 告 gào, to tell. 牛 without its bottom tail, over 口, makes 告.
- 人在草木中 (rén zài cǎo mù zhōng, A person among grass and trees): 茶 chá, tea. Grass 艹 on top, 人 in the middle and 木 below make 茶.
- 十个哥哥 (shí gè gē ge, Ten older brothers): 克 kè, gram; to overcome. 十 on top of 兄 (older brother) makes 克.
More Chinese New Year worksheets
- Chinese New Year worksheets: Lunar New Year 2027 is on Saturday, February 6, and opens the Year of the Goat, 羊年 (yáng nián), also called the Year of the Sheep or Ram. Free printable sheets for every age, with pinyin and English.
- New Year for Kindergarten: Eighteen big, simple characters for preschool and kindergarten, from 年 (nián), 春 (chūn) and 福 (fú) to 人 (rén), 山 (shān) and 水 (shuǐ). 年 春 福 红
- New Year Greetings: The spoken New Year wishes, from 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè) and 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) to 身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) for grandparents. 新年快乐 春节快乐 过年好 恭喜发财
- Year of the Goat: 2027 is the Year of the Goat, 羊年 (yáng nián), starting on Saturday, February 6; 羊 (yáng) also covers sheep and rams. 羊 羊年 山羊 绵羊
- Zodiac Animals: Write 生肖 (shēng xiào) and all twelve zodiac animals in order, from the Rat, 鼠 (shǔ), to the Pig, 猪 (zhū). 生肖 鼠 牛 虎
- Fu Character & Spring Couplets: Write 福 (fú) and the parts of a spring couplet, then copy a traditional door couplet line by line. 福 春联 对联 上联
- Chinese New Year Words: Twenty Spring Festival words: the reunion dinner, red envelopes, lanterns, firecrackers and New Year food. 春节 新年 除夕 年夜饭
- Yuan Ri (元日): Copy Wang Anshi's 元日 (yuán rì), the classic Chinese New Year poem, line by line with pinyin. 爆竹声中一岁除 春风送暖入屠苏 千门万户曈曈日 总把新桃换旧符
Frequently asked questions
When is the Lantern Festival in 2027?
The Lantern Festival, 元宵节 (yuán xiāo jié), falls on Saturday, February 20, 2027: the 15th day of the first lunar month and the first full moon of the Year of the Goat. It closes the New Year season, two weeks after Lunar New Year on February 6.
What are lantern riddles, 灯谜 (dēng mí)?
灯谜 (dēng mí) are riddles written on lanterns for visitors to guess. Many are character riddles whose clue describes how to build a character: 两个月亮 (liǎng gè yuè liang), two moons, makes 朋 (péng, friend). This page has six to try, with answers.
What is the difference between 汤圆 (tāng yuán) and 元宵 (yuán xiāo)?
Both are sweet glutinous rice balls. 汤圆 (tāng yuán), common in the south, are made by wrapping dough around the filling; 元宵 (yuán xiāo), common in the north, are made by rolling the filling in dry rice flour. Many people use the two names for the same food.
What do families do at the Lantern Festival?
They eat 汤圆 (tāng yuán), whose round shape stands for family togetherness, walk among decorated lanterns, 花灯 (huā dēng), guess riddles, 灯谜 (dēng mí), and in many towns watch dragon and lion dances under the first full moon of the year.
Is this worksheet free to print?
Yes. The Lantern Festival worksheet is free to print or save as a PDF, with no account or email needed, and you can print as many copies as you like for a class. Choose A4 or US Letter before you press Print or Save PDF.