( CNN ) -- After millions of firecrackers lit and millions of gallons of baijiu ( rice wine ) gulped , revelers around China conclude the country 's 15-day Lunar New Year celebrations with the colorful Lantern Festival , or Yuanxiao Festival . On the 15th day of the first month of the new lunar year , Chinese celebrate the year 's first full moon by eating hearty tangyuan ( rice dumplings with sweet or meat fillings ) with family and solving riddles written on cards hanging from lanterns . The word `` tangyuan '' sounds similar to the Chinese word for `` reunion '' in both Mandarin and Cantonese , and signifies bonds between family members . But there 's a problem with this year 's festival . This year the Lantern Festival falls on February 14 -- Valentine 's Day -- leading to widespread debate among Chinese netizens : Should you share tangyuan with family or chocolate with a lover ? According to ChinaNews.com , a recent survey indicates that 43.7 % of respondents are choosing to celebrate Valentine 's Day with a mate , while only 25.3 % plan to spend Lantern Festival with their parents . Although Lantern Festival is an important family festival , it 's also known as one of China 's two Valentine 's Days ( the other is on the seventh day on the seventh month of the lunar year ) . In ancient times , unmarried girls were allowed to leave home only during Lantern Festival 's celebration . Hence , the day has traditionally been a popular one for loverbirds to meet . Owing to the rare `` dual holiday , '' in Hong Kong this year , twice as many couples are getting married on Valentine 's Day as they did last year . A total of 493 pairs of couples got married on Valentine 's Day this year -- only 187 pairs got hitched on February 14 , 2013 . The Lantern Festival is celebrated outside of China , in countries including Malaysia and Vietnam .
China 's Lantern Festival takes place on the last day of Lunar New Year celebrations . This year 's festival falls on Valentine 's Day . People celebrate the first full moon by eating rice dumplings with meat ##balls .