On the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year, the center of every town, city and village in China glows with the light from hundreds of paper lanterns. The Shang Yuan festival (or lantern festival) draws families from their homes into the packed streets to bask in the auspicious red light of the new year. Riddles are written and solved and yuan xiao or sticky rice dumplings are eaten to celebrate harmony and happiness in every family.