Does the Lantern Festival have the custom of making dumplings?

Yes, the Lantern Festival, also known as the Yuanxiao Festival, has the custom of making and eating dumplings．It is believed that the tradition of making dumplings originated during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) when a physician named Zhang Zhongjing created a medicine that was shaped like an ear and filled with herbs to treat frostbite．People started to make ear-shaped dumplings on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to commemorate Zhang's contribution to medicine.

Over time, the filling of the dumplings changed from medicinal herbs to savory and sweet ingredients such as pork, vegetables, and sweet bean paste．Making and eating dumplings during the Lantern Festival has become a symbol of family reunion and good luck．It is also believed that the round shape of the dumplings represents unity and completeness, and eating them will bring good fortune and happiness in the new year.