If you find yourself unable to sit through class or concentrate on work after the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, as if the New Year were still going on, it's only natural. After all, the Lunar New Year would never be complete without the Lantern Festival celebration.
Coming into a new year means that we have survived the savage attack of the mythical monster named Nian (
So the story goes that a divine bird was slain with an arrow from a hunter's bow. Enraged by the killing, the Heavenly Emperor was bent on destroying all of humanity. He sent his heavenly soldiers to carry out the destruction by fire. The apocalypse was set for Jan. 15 on the lunar calendar. Upon hearing of the plan, the clever humans had an idea. They hung lanterns and lit firecrackers to create an airborne sea of fire. Just before the heavenly host was ready to burn the earth to an crisp, they saw the lanterns and firecrackers and were tricked into thinking that the earth was already consumed by fire.
A custom particular to Taiwan is the auspicious theft of things belonging to other people, especially for single people. According to this custom, unmarried women were encouraged to steal vegetables. The Taiwanese saying goes, "steal scallions and you can get a good marriage; steal vegetables and you can get a good husband (
A custom that remains is the ceremony honoring the Taiwanese folk deity Hantan Yeh (
Another prevalent ceremony is begging for turtles. Temples make the auspicious animal with dough at their entrances. On the day of Lantern Festival, worshippers divine the will of the gods to see if they are allowed to take home a turtle "for well-being." Those lucky enough to be granted turtles will have to come back next year and donate a larger turtle to the temple.
As on Lunar New Year's Eve, when families get together for dinner, the custom is to make sweet dumplings during Lantern Festival. However, this family function has long been replaced by the more relaxing activity of family shopping. Sweet dumplings are easily available from traditional markets to upscale restaurants.
For this occasion, Taipei and Kaohsiung are going to hold large-scale lantern festivals tomorrow. These government-hosted galas may prove to be very popular as in previous years. In Taipei, the Taipei Lantern Festival will kick off tomorrow at 7pm at CKS Memorial Hall and last until Feb. 23. The roads surrounding the venue will be turned into "lantern tunnels." On Aiguo E. Rd., or the "Famous all over the World Lantern Area," are 26 large lanterns sponsored by businesses, government agencies and religious organizations. Apart from more traditional designs like Lung Yen Life Service's "Fortune Brought by a Dragon and a Phoenix," there are also lanterns depicting modern aspects of life, like "A Cosmopolitan Cybercity" by the Taipei City Government Information Management Center. As it's the Year of the Goat, this year's main lantern, placed at the center of the memorial hall plaza, is designed as a pair of giant horns. Visitors can ascend through the horn's interior to its summit.
On the other side of the memorial hall on Hsinyi Rd. are the Group Lantern Competition Area and Citizen Lantern Competition Area. Winners of various annual lantern contests are displayed here. You are likely to find many marvelous works among them.
Exotic Folk Art Street is a new version of the folk art street of years past, where you can find traditional Taiwanese snacks and toys from all over the island. This year, this part of the festival attempts to be exotic by including not just local specialties but traditional foreign food and handicrafts. For those more enthusiastic about shopping and eating, this is the area to spend a nice couple of hours.
The Lantern Riddle Stage will be near the concert hall, where 2,300 contestants will take home small trophies.
Lastly, to keep your memory of the festival always fresh, there's a portrait section behind the main lantern set where photographers will take your picture and have it printed in a cartoon frame -- for free!
The Kaohsiung Lantern Festival kicks off this evening with an unprecedented range of activities. In a bid to raise the city's tourism profile, the festivities there will coincide with the annual International Flag and Drum Festival.
The series of activities starts today at 6:30pm with a fireworks show and water dance in the Ai river. The shows will repeat every evening till they close on Feb. 23. Every evening lanterns made by artists and students will be on display along the river and in Ren-ai Park.
The highlight of the festival will be tomorrow's lantern march. Starting at 7pm, banner and drums teams from high schools in southern Taiwan will lead a procession of lanterns through downtown Kaohsiung.
On Piers 20 and 21 of Kaohsiung Harbor, flag and drum teams from abroad will be performing. An accompanying folk art street and agricultural products fair will provide something to nibble on as you enjoy the show.
As for the traffic, sightseeing boats will go along Kaohsiung harbor every evening. The "Dodo" mini train, going between the harbor and downtown, created a sensation among festival-goers with its debut two years ago.
Before leaving the festival, you may want to try the city government's newly-launched "flags and drums cake" and "flags and drums wine" which come in special-packages. These would make good souvenirs.
Activities at major temples around Taiwan:
TAIPEI
Taipei's Confucious Temple (
Pao-an Temple (
TAITUNG
Hsuan Wu Tang (
TAINAN
Luerhmen Tian Ho Temple (
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