Google doodle marks the Lantern Festival and end of the Chinese New Year

Anyone using the Google homepage on Monday 22 February will see the search engine marking the Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year.

The festival dates back more than 2,000 years is marked around China and many parts of the world with celebrations that fall on the final day of China's New Year celebrations.

Coinciding with the middle of the opening month of the lunar calendar and so the first full moon of the Chinese year, the festival ushers in the coming of spring and lanterns are sent up into the sky, both signifying the longer days and the full moon.

"Guest Doodler Patrick Leger chose to honour this day with a tribute to the lighting of paper lanterns, which speckle the night sky on this special occasion," said Google.

"The lanterns represent a smooth transition into the new year and the shedding of one's past."

The riot of colour is seen throughout the world and is celebrated with lion and dragon dances and eating tangyuan which are dumplings made of rice flour that symbolise being with the family.

In Ancient China, the Festival was the equivalent of Valentine's Day in the West. Chinese New Year taboos are also declared over the festival.