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A time of celebration
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John Woo
TODAY is the 15th day of the first lunar month, the occasion of a yearly rite: the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Spring Festival. Taking place during a full moon --- which always occurs on the 15th day of a lunar month --- the festival mainly acts as a merry finale to the lunar new year celebrations.
There are several versions of how the festival began. Perhaps the most well-known story dates its origins to the Han Dynasty, some 2,000 years ago. When Emperor Wen defeated the Empress Dowager Lu and took power on the 15th day of the first lunar month and he ordered the day be set aside as a day of celebration.
Traditionally, this day features Yuan Xiao, or glutinous rice dumplings, lanterns, dragon dance, guessing riddles and merry gatherings.
The major part of the celebration is the display of colourful lanterns on the streets and fairs.
Another traditional aspect of the festival is the composition of riddles. People involved in this activity have to answer riddles that come from poems, sayings or proverbs.
Like all festivals, the Lantern Festival has its own special food called "Yuan Xiao". These are round dumplings made of rice flour, with sweet or salty paste inside. They symbolize both the first full moon of the lunar year and the complete family union.
Dragon dances are an especially colourful, not to mention famous, part of the festival, especially in rural areas. Farmers like to organize teams of dragon dancers and stage exciting parades on local streets, celebrating the happy days of the past and expressing hope for a better tomorrow.
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