Lantern Festival元宵节

YuanxiaoJunxiao Shi, 2015-03-05Jan 15 of lunar calendar

first full moon since Chinese New Year

photo ©2012, North sea deamer©2015, yoursunny.comCreativeCommons BY-NC-SA 3.0

Origin

• dated before 104 BC• celebration of• the declining darkness of

winter,• community's ability to

move about at night with human-made light, namely, lanterns

©2005, Formulax

灯笼 lanterns

•made of paper & wood, lit by candle• Red color symbolizes

good fortune.• The displaying of

lanterns is a major event on Lantern Festival.

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猜灯谜 guessing lantern riddles• Patrons solve puzzles written on lanterns.• They often contain messages of good

fortune, family reunion, abundant harvest, prosperity, and love.

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猜灯谜 guessing lantern riddles• 头尖身细白如银• 称称没有半毫分• 眼睛长到屁股上• 光认衣裳不认人

• What household item:• has a sharp tip, a thin body,

silver color,• is less than half gram on the

scale,• has its eye on the butt,• goes into clothing but not

people?

汤圆 glutinous rice balls

• filled with ground black sesame seeds mixed with sugar• cooked and served in

boiling water

• traditional food for Lantern Festival in Shanghai and beyond

©2006, 陈少举

兔子灯 rabbit lamp

• rabbit-shaped toy with wheels, towed by kids• made with paper and

bamboo, lit by candle.

• Why rabbit? Chinese folklore portrays a "moon rabbit" as a companion of the Moon goddess Chang'e.

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A little fact

• Junxiao was born on a Lantern Festival.• The last character of his name is homophonic

of this festival.• Junxiao ~ Yuanxiao, got it?