Lantern Festival

We returned to the Shining City February 21st. February 22nd was the Lantern Festival, the last night of Spring Festival celebrations around this country. We have never been able to observe the festivities before - normally we're traveling - but this year we went out to see the excitement. The main street in front of our apartment complex was full of people, closed to all traffic. The city government had put up a huge dragon over the street (and in several other key places around town). We were told that everyone would make their way to the dragon and then "rub" it's tail for good luck. So there were literally thousands of people making their way down the street to the dragon and then making a U-turn back the way they came after touching the tail. It was quite a site to see so many people out and about at that time of night (normally after it's dark in our city people don't really get out). People of all ages were out. It was neat to be able to walk around and experience a little of the biggest holiday of the year year.

This is the moon on the night of Lantern Festival - it was really full.


Here is the dragon - all lit up - and notice ALL the people on the street.

Here's a cute little girl holding a mini-lantern - many of the children were carrying these around.