农历正月十五是中国传统的元宵佳节，春节期间的节日活动也将在这达到一个高潮。元宵之夜，大街小巷张灯结彩，人们点起万盏花灯，携亲伴友出门赏灯、逛花市、放焰火，载歌载舞欢度元宵佳节。

Fifteenth dayThe fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as Yuanxiao Festival/Yuánxiāojié (元宵节), aka Shangyuan Festival/Shàngyuánjié (上元节) or the Lantern Festival . Rice dumplings tangyuan  a sweet glutinous rice ball brewed in a soup, are eaten this day. Candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns.

In Malaysia and Singapore, this day is celebrated by individuals seeking for a love partner, a different version of Valentine's Day.[23] Normally, single women would write their contact number on mandarin oranges and throw it in a river or a lake while single men would collect them and eat the oranges. The taste is an indication of their possible love: sweet represents a good fate while sour represents a bad fate.

This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.