Falling on February 6th in 2012, the Lantern Festival marks the last day of the Chinese New Year season and thankfully, all the very loud fireworks. My mandarin teacher asked me what I thought of the New Year’s celebrations. I explained that we too have fireworks for New Years and 4th of July, but that they do not last as long, or as loud, as here. She laughed and said, “It is because we have 1.38 billion people lighting them off!”
It is also a kind of Valentine’s Day. In the past, it was the one day of the year when a woman could come out - chaperoned, of course! And be seen by eligible single men. In the days when women's feet were bound, it was often the one time when she could appear in public with unbound feet. Of course, these restrictions no longer exist, but there is still a lot of advertising about “falling in love” and such, during the Lantern Festival celebrations.
I was able to catch a “Good Luck” ceremony for business, out front of our Hotel this morning. It was very nice and very cold. I really hope you can’t tell that my hands were shaking while I was videotaping it.
Now I am off to see if I can find 3x5 cards for my lessons. Wish me luck!
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