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Parks in Kunming cheer for Lantern Festival

Source: | 2010-03-01

The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is the Chinese Lantern Festival because the first lunar month is called yuan-month and in the ancient times people called night Xiao. The 15th day is the first night to see a full moon. So the day is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China. This year the Yuan Xiao Festival (Lantern Festival) falls on February 28.

Green Lake Park

A foreigner learns how to make rice glue balls at Green Lake Park on February 27. [photo/Qu Mingfei]
 
For keeping traditional crafts, pastry experts were invited to the Golden Temple Park and Green Lake Park on February 27 to teach visitors how to make rice glue balls, which are eaten on the Lantern Festival. On the Lantern Festival, it is said that every household eats glutinous rice dumplings. People in the north and south call it differently and make it in different ways.

Golden Temple Park

The Golden Temple Park was decorated with more than 200 lanterns which have been written with riddles referring to idioms, Chinese proverbs and song names of films on February 27 to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

Daguan Park

A traditional Chinese costume party was held at Daguan Park in the evening of February 27 to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which provided an excellent chance for single people to look for a partner since the lantern was also called Chinese Valentine's Day.

Lantern Festival

In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, for only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones; in modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs. For example, lanterns are now often made in shapes of animals.

The Lantern Festival is also known as the Little New Year since it marks the end of the series of celebrations starting from the Chinese New Year.(Editor: Minnie Mao)

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