Yuanxiao, sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice flour, is the special food for the lantern festival. Why do Chinese eat Yuanxiao during the Lantern Festival? Here is a legendary story about Yuanxiao.

It is said that one day in the Spring and Autumn period, King Zhao of Chu saw something floating in the Yangtze River when he was passing the river. He ordered his bodyguards to salvage that out and found it is a kind of sweet food with white skin and red filling.

Confused as he was, he asked Confucius whether it is a good sign of the God or not. Confucius said that is a symbol of a prosperous nation. The King was delighted and ordered all the people in the country to made this kind of food. This day was the 15th day of the first lunar month. And after that, eating Yuanxiao during the Lantern Festival became a popular tradition among Chinese people.

Source: baike.baidu.com