Lantern Festival
Lantern Festival, also known as Shang Yuan Festival, takes place on the
fifteenth day of the first moon. Last in a series of springtime celebrations,
this "second New Year" is widely celebrated by families all around Taiwan.
On
the night of the festival, decorative lanterns depicting birds, beasts, historical
figures, and any one of a number of different themes can be found in the hands of
playing children or adorning temples throughout the province. To highlight these
glowing works of art, competitions are held island-wide. The Taipei Lantern Festival
held annually at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Plaza, the largest and most famous of
these competitions, is attended every year by thousands of lantern-watchers attracted
by the brilliant displays at this festival. Lantern Festival is further enriched by
the customary lantern riddle parties that are held on this night.
The night sky on Lantern Festival
is also illuminated by the Tainan Yanshui Fireworks Display and Taipei Ping River Sky
Lanterns - known together as "Fireworks in the South, Sky Lanterns in the North,"
as well as many other regional folk activities.
In addition to displaying and
appreciating lanterns, Lantern Festival is also celebrated by eating tang yuan, an
important custom symbolizing family unity and indispensable to the
day's festivities.
The varied festivities and customs
practiced on Lantern Festival not only provide celebrants with rich entertainment,
like the historical-theme lantern displays and riddles, but are also instructive, by
their expression of ancient wisdom. The variety of splendid lantern features
different folk art techniques, inscribing such arts deep in the hearts and minds of
the people. |
