2012年8月4日星期六

It is the Chinese Lantern Festival and we Celebrate with flying Lanterns


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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