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The 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar is a special occasion. This date usually marks the rise of the first full moon of the Chinese year, which symbolizes new beginnings. On this day every year a special festival is held, called "YuanXiaojie", or - the Lantern Festival.
During the lantern festival, thousands of people raise up an equal number of Chinese lanterns, go out in groups and families to gaze admiringly at the new full moon, work out lantern puzzles together, and enjoy a meal of Yuanxiao, which are dumplings made from sweet rice flour.
This year's lantern festival in Taipei (Southeast China's Taiwan) was an espeically beautiful and colorful one to behold, making use of over 50 large sized modern lanterns.
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Most of these lanterns were made by various student groups and artists from around the city, weeks and months before. All of them were made to deliver good wishes for the new year.
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The use of modern and artistic lanterns such as these began only in the year 2000, when before only traditional lanterns were used and flown, the festivals began also incoporating the use of colorful sculpture lanterns like these ones. |
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