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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Charlie Kovach

Charlie Kovach

The legend behind China's Lantern Festival -- Learn Chinese - 0 views

  • The Lantern Festival dates back to legends of the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) over 2000 years ago.
  • (206 BC – 220 AD) over 2000 years ago.
  • the Jade Emperor in Heaven was so angered at a town for killing his favorite goose, that he decided to destroy it with a storm of fire. However, a good-hearted fairy heard of this act of vengeance, and warned the people of the town to light lanterns throughout the town on the appointed day. The townsfolk did as they were told, and from the Heavens, it looked as if the village was ablaze. Satisfied that his goose had already been avenged, the Jade Emperor decided not to destroy the town.
  •  
    The legend of the lantern festival that is about the Jade Emperor and his favorite goose. 
Charlie Kovach

Chinese Lantern Festival - what's it all about? | Asia New Zealand Foundation - 0 views

    • Charlie Kovach
       
      Yet another variation of the legend
    • Charlie Kovach
       
      Sometimes people even host lantern riddle parties.
Charlie Kovach

Lantern Festival - 0 views

    • Charlie Kovach
       
      Most of these are explained in detail on my other links
  • Many lanterns are made to reflect historical Chinese themes, and depict scenes from stories and legends that express traditional values. They are also made to represent the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac and heroic figures. These are only some examples. The variety of lanterns at the Lantern Festival is limitless.
  • The Lantern Festival is also popularly referred to as Chinese Valentine's Day
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  • It is an important practice to eat Tang Yuan during the Lantern Festival because they symbolize family reunion and unity, essential values of the celebration, and their shape is harmonious with the full moon.
  • During the 15 day celebration of the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, people make a fresh start, and set the tone for the upcoming year.
Charlie Kovach

Chinese Lantern Festival - 0 views

    • Charlie Kovach
       
      This seems to be the most common of all the legends I found.
  • The Lantern festival normally starts around the 15th day after the Chinese New Year.
  • A long time ago, a beautiful crane flew from heaven down to the earth. After it landed down
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  • on earth, the crane was hunted and k
  • on earth, the crane was hunted and killed by an earth villager. The Jade Emperor in Heaven
  • was so angered at a town for killing his favorite crane that he decided to destroy it with a
  • storm of fire. However, a good-hearted fairy heard of this act of vengea
  • nce, and warned the
  • people of the town to light lanterns throughout the town, and explode firecracker on the
  • This would give the village the appearance of being on fire to the Jade Emperor. On the
  • fifteenth lunar day, troops sent down from heaven whose mission was to destroy the village
  • saw that the village was already ablaze, and returned to heaven to report to the Jade
  • Emperor. Satisfied that his crane had already been avenged, the Jade Emperor decided not
  • to destroy the town
  • From that day on, people celebrated the anniversary of their deliverance by carried lanterns
  • of different shapes and colors through the streets on the first full moon of the year,
  • This holiday will feature children showing off some of the most complex and delicate lanterns, lit with real candles inside while walking down the street.
Charlie Kovach

Learn the Origin of Lantern Festival with eChineseOnline - 0 views

    • Charlie Kovach
       
      Here is one variation of the legend
Charlie Kovach

Chinese Lantern Festival Celebrations | Chinese New Year 2012 - 0 views

    • Charlie Kovach
       
      I found about three popular legends for the origin of the Lantern Festival.
    • Charlie Kovach
       
      However, there are many more than those. 
  • One of the myths of the Lantern Festivals origins is that Emperor Mingdi had a dream of a golden man driving darkness out of the land. Because of the dream, the Buddhist scriptures were found, and the Emperor ordered lanterns to be hung in honor of Buddha, who has the power to bring light to the people.
  • The customs that are practiced for the festival vary greatly depending on the country and region that you are visiting.
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  • There are also variations in the legends that are told about the Lantern Festival, as well. One thing that is the same around the world is the lighting of the lanterns and the presence of dumplings.
  • The Lantern Festival has been a part of New Year’s celebrations in China for many centuries. Some people believe that the festival began during the Han Dynasty,
  • There are other legends and myths about the Lantern Festival and its origins, as well, depending on the region of China that you visit.
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