LANTERN FESTIVALS V

BEIJING, March. 1 — More than 50,000 people dined together to celebrate the annual Lantern Festival in Yayang Town of Taishun County in Wenzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province on February 28th.

According to the Times News, it took a whole year to prepare the large banquet and more than 1,000 local villagers served as temporary chefs and waiters for the event, which used a total of 5,000 tables. Ji Xiaobin, the chief organizer, said the turnout exceeded their expectations – they had only planned to use 2,500 tables. It’s estimated that guests from the neighboring cities of Hangzhou, Shanghai and Wenzhou reached 6,000.

Taishun’s “Hundred-Family Banquet” began in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and has over 1,000 years of history. Banquets have historically been known as a time to ask for blessings during the Lantern Festival.

Locals regard the event as a time for family reunions, and they discuss family affairs, ask for blessings from Gods and pray for long-term peace.

In 2007, the “Hundred-Family Banquet” was list as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

YouTube – Taiwan Celebrates the Lantern Festival

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlWUeTux2m0

A tiger-shaped giant lantern illuminated the evening in Taipei’s city center on Thursday ahead of the annual Lantern Festival on Sunday.

The Lantern Festival announces the end of Chinese New Year Celebrations.

Hundreds of tiger-themed lanterns decorated the city hall square and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial park.

The lanterns attracted scores of residents who brought along their family and children to the site.

YouTube – lantern festival Taiwan During CNY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K4EHrkV8Rk&NR=1

YouTube – Lantern Festerval 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qmFYLP71n4&feature=related

Lantern festival in Taipei, Taiwan February 26, 2010

YouTube – 2010台北燈節－福氣虎主燈全景 Taipei Lantern Festival – Hoki Tiger Main Show

YouTube – 2010台北燈節－花燈 Taipei Lantern Festival – Lanters Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ourvbqr11w&feature=related

YouTube – 2010台北燈節開幕燈光秀

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zGoYM-DlIc&feature=related

YouTube – 5-minute Round at Lantern Display Zone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S5-b08zWEA&feature=related

March 03, 2010 — I’ll take you to eye-witnessing Taiwan Lantern Fest in Chiayi, virtually ^^. Pardon me for the shaky videos..hehe. [Bunga Primasari]

YouTube – 2010 Taiwan Lantern Festival @Chiayi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6JN3e1ls9g&feature=related

YouTube – 2010 Taiwan Lantern Festival @Chiayi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6JN3e1ls9g&feature=related

YouTube – 2010 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chia-yi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5SzbcMMIMA&feature=related

YouTube – Taiwan Chiayi Lantern Festival 2010 Opening Ceremony (2010 年台灣嘉義燈會開燈典禮)

YouTube – 2010 Lantern Festival – Kickoff ceremony 2-26-10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iul1atenduo&feature=related

YouTube – Introduction of Kaohsiung Lantern Festival 2010 fireworks in Love River.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK41uPHGlvY&feature=related

March 07, 2010 — Kaohsiung City located in beautiful and sunny southern Taiwan.The second big city in Taiwan.Every year there is anniversary fireworks show and lantern festival in Love River.photograph by Lin.(I am boy!)

YouTube – Kaohsiung Lantern Festival fireworks show 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBTU5Y2V3R8