Festivities herald a good new year
Print Edition
CHINA celebrated the Lantern Festival in style yesterday, despite the economic slowdown.
Nationwide revelry brought an end to Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations on a day when many Chinese see themselves starting a new life in a new year.
China’s cities were festooned with red lanterns on gates, along the streets and most public places.
Folk dances were staged in streets and squares, with lantern shows and fireworks putting a brilliant, dazzling final touch to the festivities.
Apart, that is, from Shanghai where fireworks have been banned since January 1. And in Beijing, authorities suggested that the capital’s residents refrain from setting off fireworks.
The Lantern Festival is an important family day but, unlike Spring Festival, when people stay home for family dinners, it is a day for going out and about.
In southwest China’s Sichuan Province, 20 dragon dance troupes gathered in Luxian County. The county is believed to be the home of China’s dragon culture and performances are frequently staged there on festive occasions.
A team of dancers under a long dragon “costume” painted red or gold used poles to manipulate the dragon’s head and serpentine “body.” They danced to the accompaniment of drums, twisting the dragon as it “danced,” shaking its head and swinging its tail through the crowds.
Another folk dance, the yangge, was performed in Yan’an city, the “red cradle” of the Chinese revolution in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.
Staging the dance on Lantern Festival has become a tradition in the city and this year about 3,000 performers in bright costumes with colorful umbrellas, fans and red ribbons danced to local folk music and drums.
The Lantern Festival dates back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), and lanterns are almost always red: the color of good fortune in China.
In Shanghai, Yuyuan Garden not only presented traditional lanterns but also the latest high-tech lighting. With a monkey theme, its lantern show featured lasers and pop music.
Though such modern shows attract huge numbers of people, some are keen to preserve more traditional celebrations.
“Decorating lanterns is a most important cultural activity which has existed for thousands of years,” said Xu Hualong of the Shanghai folk artists association. “New elements have been added to the lantern show, but we should be careful to preserve traditional decoration techniques.”
Lantern-maker Zhu Lei, 88, runs a shop near the garden.
He made more than 500 lanterns by hand in the months leading up to the festival.
“I do not do it for money. I just want to preserve what has been passed on in my family for generations,” he said.
It is a popular day for people to visit temples. Xi Nan, 32, a Beijing resident, went to Yonghegong Lama Temple in the morning to pray for a second child this year. China has allowed all couples to have a second child since January 1.
After the celebrations of the Lantern Festival, migrant workers leave home to seek their fortune.
There is a saying that “the whole year’s work depends on a good start in spring.” Many view Lantern Festival as a chance to make such a start.
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