On the fifteenth day of the lunar new year, everyone gathered for a reunion dinner, marking the beginning of the annual Lantern Festival.
Yes, in the Northeast, it's called the Lantern Festival, a traditional celebration that, in addition to enjoying fried glutinous rice balls, involves lighting and viewing lanterns and fireworks.
In the south, people typically release sky lanterns and have fun with lantern riddles during this festival.
In the Northeast, it's more about setting lanterns alight. Each household prepares its own mix of sawdust and diesel, and these are set out in small piles that extend from the courtyard to the gate.
When night falls, each family ignites their lanterns, lighting up the courtyard and shining brightly.
The men usually oversee the lantern lighting outside while the women set about making more lanterns indoors for the children.
