Lantern Festival Taiwan

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TAIWAN SAIJIKI

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Lantern Festival

***** Location: Taiwan
***** Season: Spring
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation


Isabelle writes:

On 17 February 2011, I received a lovely e-mail and photograph from a Taiwanese colleague :

"Today is the annual Lantern Festival in Taiwan representing the end of Spring Festival. Besides making traditional lanterns, one of the most interesting events is to launch the sky lanterns.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy, peaceful and healthy life in 2011!

All the best to you and Happy Lantern Festival!"




e-mail message --
a Taiwanese friend's wish
for lantern festival

Isabelle Prondzynski


Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4eb0aDPwBY&feature=fvw

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The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival since Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago. In the early Tan Dynasty (618-907AD), it was called the Shan-Yuan Festival, because of Taoism. in the late Tan Dynasty, it was called the Yuan-Xiao Festival. It was called Lantern Night in the Sun Dynasty (960-1297 A.D.). The Lantern Festival was used in Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD).

According to Taoism, Shan-Yuan (first period of the year) Festival is the birthday of the Heaven Officer who blesses human luck. On the 15th lunar day of 7th lunar month is Chung-Yuan (middle period of the year) Festival, which is the birthday of the Hell Officer who has right to pardon ghosts. On this day, all the ghosts can leave hell to human world for food. So the 7th lunar month is called Ghost Month. Many Chinese won't get married in this month. The 15th lunar day of 10th lunar month is Xia-Yaun (last period of the year) Festival. This day is the birthday of the Water Officer who can rescue people in trouble.

On the 15th lunar day of the year, some Chinese families worship the Heaven Officer of Taoism and pray for luck at home or temple during the daytime. Traditionally, Chinese should decorate the light lanterns around the house and children carry the candle paper lantern on the street at night. It might the safety concern, not too many follow this custom today. In stead, many people will attend different activities of the Lantern Festival.
source : www.chinesefortunecalendar.com




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Worldwide use

Japan

genshoosetsu 元宵節（げんしょうせつ）
genshoosai 元宵祭（げんしょうさい）
celebration of the first part (of three) of one year

There are three seasonal changes within a year, following the old Chinese Taoist lore, which has been introduced to Japan. They follow the Asian lunar calendar.
It is a day of prayer for good fortune in the coming year on the first day of each change.

. First third of the year (joogen 上元) 　

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There are many other lantern festivals in Japan.

Many are related to the ancestor worship at O-Bon or to the autumnal harvest festivals.

. WKD : Lantern Festivals


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

Yuanxiao Festival, 元宵節 also known as the Lantern Festival, celebrated by the Chinese around the world.


not one lantern
under the Toronto sky...
one more bowl of yuanxiao

Yuanxiao Festival
soaring lanterns lighting up
the Taipei Sky


Note:
The fifteenth day of the Chinese lunar new year is traditionally called Yuanxiao Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival. It is celebrated by the Chinese around the world.
On this day, all the family members gather together to have bowls of yuanxiao or tangyuan (glutinous rice balls brewed in a sweet soup) right after dinner, and walk the streets carrying lanterns or launching sky lanterns.

For further information, read the Wikipedia entry entitled
. Lantern Festival


Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan and has been the capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 1949.

Chen-ou Liu
Taiwan/Canada


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lantern festival . . .
a paperboat rocking
in ocean song

- Shared by Asni Amin, Singapore -
Joys of Japan, 2012


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sky lanterns
our wishes afloat
among stars

- Shared by Christine L. Villa, USA -
Joys of Japan, 2012



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Related words


***** Moon Festival, Mid-autumn Festival Taiwan
moon cakes, moon rice cakes


***** Double Ninth Day, Chrysanthemum Festival
the ninth day of the ninth month


***** WKD : New Year Celebrations



. TAIWAN SAIJIKI . 　

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