In a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump wished the Chinese people a happy Lantern Festival. For those who are not familiar with the 2,000-year-old festival, here are the key and fun facts.

#FullMoon

Chinese Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, when the first full moon will appear at night.

#RedLantern

Red lantern symbolizes hope and good luck. It is also a tradition during the festival to release a red lantern to the sky, which is believed to let go people's past selves and embrace new identities for the new year.

#LanternRiddles

Another tradition for the festival is to play the game of solving lantern riddles. Notes with riddles are usually attached to the lanterns and people often play together at lantern fairs.

#Yuanxiao

Yuanxiao, or glutinous rice ball, is a can't-miss dessert reserved for the festival, resembling the shape of full moon and symbolizing family unity. It can be custom made with fillings such as nuts and beans, and the most popular recipe across China is black sesame with sugar.

#Romance

In the ancient time, the festival was one of the few days when unmarried ladies were allowed to go out and socialize with potential suitors. This is why the festival is sometimes called Chinese Valentine's Day.

#EndofTaboos

Throughout the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year, a crying child, a hospital visit, breaking equipment or using scissors are among the taboos that people believe will bring bad luck. The Lantern Festival however marks the end of all those taboos until the next Lunar New Year.

#GetTogether

Just like Christmas and the New Year, the festival is a perfect occasion for family and friends to spend some quality time together.

#Worldwide

The Lantern Festival now belongs to China and also the world, as many countries also have special celebrations for the festival.