This year I attended Kaohsiung City's Lantern Festival (http://www.2009khl.com.tw/). It was a lot like summer festivals in the U.S. (e.g. Dublin Irish Festival or Circleville Pumpkin Festival). There were artists and crafters selling their works. There was plenty of fair food. Much of the food was just like what you'd find in the U.S. at fairs but there were also Chinese staples like stinky tofu (chou dofu) and chicken feet. They had a mainstage with various performances, including some major Taiwanese pop stars I heard. I saw street performers entertaining the crowds. I felt a little like I was home because the atmosphere was so similar to summer festivals in the U.S.
The lanterns, of course, were the main feature. The Kaohsiung City Lantern Festival asked that all lanterns include themes for the year of the ox and the 2009 World Games (which the city will host in July). A wide variety of groups entered lanterns into the contest. Schools at all levels and community groups participated. Walking through and seeing the craftsmanship of these lanterns was amazing. I have included some pictures at the end of this post. Every evening of the festival the lanterns were lit up for visitors to enjoy them in their full glory.
My school, Wufu Elementary School, has a long tradition of award winning lanterns. They entered lanterns in more than one local lantern festival this year and won a number of prizes. The keep the lanterns on display in some unused classrooms at school. During school breaks they even offer lantern-making classes that parents and children can take together. I think that's a fantastic idea!
If you want to learn more about the origins and history of the Lantern Festival just click on this link: http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78320.htm.
Otherwise, enjoy the following pictures from the Kaohsiung City 2009 Lantern Festival.
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