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nInalready mentioned the Lantern Festival that marks the end of thenChinese New Yearncelebrations (also known as the Spring Festival).n Tonight’s festival is also called the YuanxiaonFestival because it is traditional to eat yuanxiao,nwhich are rice balls stuffed with various fillings such as sugar,nrose petals, sesame, and sweetened bean paste. These rice balls cannbe boiled, fried, or steamed.
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nLightingnlanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of the Chinesenyear began as a tradition during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE).nIt was meant to show respect for Buddha. So the Lantern Festival hasnbeen celebrated for more than 2,000 years! n
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Onentradition I had never heard of is guessing lantern riddles. Peoplenwrite riddles and paste them on the colorful lanterns in their housenor shop. Visitors try to guess the riddles; when people think theynknow an answer, they pull off the paper and go to the host to see ifnthey are right. Gifts are given to the people who get the rightnanswers.
Onentradition I had never heard of is guessing lantern riddles. Peoplenwrite riddles and paste them on the colorful lanterns in their housenor shop. Visitors try to guess the riddles; when people think theynknow an answer, they pull off the paper and go to the host to see ifnthey are right. Gifts are given to the people who get the rightnanswers.n
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nAnotherntradition is the Lion Dance. This is often performed by one or twonpeople in a lion costume; performers can either show off theirnacrobatic and stilt-walking skills or they can go for realisticnlionlike movements.
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nYoundon’t have to be in a lion costume to do stilt-walking during thisnfestival! Many performers walk with stilts bound to their feet, andnsome performers do difficult tricks on the stilts.
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IfnI could be anywhere in China tonight, I might choose Culture Park innSichuan. The park is supposed to be an ocean of lit lanterns, withnone golden-dragon lantern spiraling up a 27-meter-high pole; thendragon lantern spews fireworks from its mouth!
IfnI could be anywhere in China tonight, I might choose Culture Park innSichuan. The park is supposed to be an ocean of lit lanterns, withnone golden-dragon lantern spiraling up a 27-meter-high pole; thendragon lantern spews fireworks from its mouth!n
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- Riddle me this… Checknout some traditional riddles. Can you guess the answers?
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- Kaboosenoffers directions to help you make a simple paper lantern.
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- This video showsnmany more advanced lantern shapes, which you can learn to make here.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nIndependence Day in Estonia
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Mexico’snFlag Day
Mexico’snFlag Dayn
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nRobot-buildingnpioneer Vaucanson’s birthday
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