The Chinese Flying Lanterns Festival is full of
fun and celebrations that are observed in China in the third lunar month of
each new year. The celebration takes place on the first full moon with Chinese
lanterns being lit and lighting up the evening sky for everyone to enjoy. The day
of the Chinese Lantern Festival is celebrated with plenty of games, eating
glutinous rice balls and preparing and hanging lanterns.
Lanterns are made using paper or paper
mache. Paper lanterns can be purchased in any variety of bright colors and
sizes or you can design and cut out your own made with construction paper.
Paper lanterns are then decorated with sequins, glitter, decorative stickers,
ribbons and paint. These are hung for celebrations with or without lights. Some
have battery-operated tea lights or use regular bulbs. Kids enjoy making paper
mache flying lanterns by blowing up balloons and covering them with homemade
paper mache. Each unique form is allowed to dry and the balloon is popped and
then decorated.
Throughout the day children and adults
enjoy playing riddle games with lanterns. Riddles are thought up and created
around Chinese folk lore and culture. The riddle is written on paper and placed
inside each lantern by the owner. Individuals partaking in the celebrations try
and solve the riddle and take the answer to lantern owners who then reciprocate
with a small gift in honor of the achievement.
Delicious rice balls called Yuanxiao are
filled with savory or sweet fillings and served during the holiday
celebrations. The fun may include using other Chinese lanterns such as sky
lanterns and flying lanterns .
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