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The Chinese language New 12 months interval is coming to an finish with the Lantern Competition and Google is celebrating it with a particular Doodle. Right here’s what it’s good to know in regards to the pageant and the doodle
Picture: REUTERS)
Google Doodle is celebrating the Lantern Competition which marks the primary full moon on the Lunar calendar.
The Chinese language New 12 months or the Spring Competition, marks the start of the spring season and the Lantern Competition is the ultimate day when the 15-day celebration involves an finish.
Statement of Chinese language New 12 months taboos – like not utilizing scissors or avoiding crying kids – come to an finish after the Lantern Competition, with folks taking down their decorations and on the brink of return to work or examine.
Right here’s all the pieces it’s good to know in regards to the Lantern Competition, together with why and the way it’s celebrated.
What’s the Lantern Competition?
The Lantern Competition or Yuan Xiao Jie or Yuanxiao Competition is a conventional Chinese language pageant which is widely known two weeks after the Lunar New 12 months, on the fifteenth day of the primary month.
The pageant marks the primary full moon of the brand new lunar yr in addition to the tip of the Chinese language New 12 months interval. This yr, the Lantern Competition is being celebrated on Tuesday, February 15 which Google Doodle is marking with a particular doodle.
What’s the origin of Lantern Competition?
There are a number of origin tales for the Lantern Competition. One of many well-liked ones is that Emperor Han Mingdi who dominated at the start of the Japanese Han Dynasty, was an advocate of Buddhism.
It is believed that the emperor heard that some monks lit lanterns of their temples to indicate respect to Buddha on the fifteenth day of the primary lunar month.
He ordered that every one the temples, households, and royal palaces ought to mild lanterns that evening, and this finally turned a grand occasion which is widely known because the Lantern Competition until immediately.
One other legend says that the Jade Emperor, a Chinese language deity, had a favorite crane who was killed by some villagers. He determined to destroy the village with fireplace on the fifteenth day of the lunar yr.
The Jade Emperor’s daughter felt very unhappy about this and warned the villagers. The villagers then – on the recommendation of a sensible man – determined to hold purple lanterns to provide the Jade Emperor the impression that the village was already on fireplace.
The emperor was tricked and the village survived. That is thought to have develop into the custom of hanging purple lanterns on the fifteenth day of the lunar yr.
How is the Lantern Competition celebrated?
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Picture:
Anadolu Company through Getty Pictures)
Historically, the Lantern Competition is widely known by lighting lanterns and sending them floating into the sky as a symbolic act that honours one’s ancestors.
Releasing the lanterns additionally symbolises folks letting go of the previous yr and welcoming the brand new yr with luck.
The commonest sort of lantern is the small orb, however because the custom has developed many artisans have begun to create distinctive designs in numerous shapes and sizes—from big dragons to lanterns sufficiently small for kids to hold.
An additional aspect of enjoyable is added with many individuals slipping small items of paper with riddles on them contained in the lantern.
Whereas some riddles are simple to unravel, others are notoriously tough and have been given the nickname “lantern tigers,” because it’s mentioned it is simpler to battle a tiger than remedy them.
The evening of the Chinese language Lantern Competition is a vibrant one with streets embellished in vibrant lanterns in addition to folks feasting on eat candy rice balls referred to as tangyuan, watching dragon and lion dances, and setting off fireworks.
Most of those modern-day celebrations have roots in historical Chinese language traditions stretching again over 2,000 years to the beginning of the Japanese Han Dynasty.
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