Chinese Lantern Festival

The Chinese Lantern Festival takes place under a full moon on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, which is the month of February.

Zhan Jie, programme officer at the China Cultural Centre will give an illustrated talk about this celebration at the centre in Valletta tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Ms Zhan will draw a perfect full stop to the Spring Festival. Legends, customs and symbolic food about the Lantern Festival will make for a most colourful encounter.

One will also be able to join in the fun in trying to guess Chinese lantern riddles. The festival, which dates back to legends connected to the Han dynasty, marks the end of Chinese spring festivities. In one such legend, the Jade Emperor in heaven was so enraged at a town for killing his favourite goose that, as a punishment, he decided to destroy the town with fire. Hearing of this vengeful act, a good-hearted fairy advised the people to light the town with lanterns. This the people did and, from up above, it looked as if the place was already ablaze. Content that the insult had been avenged, the emperor went back on his decision. The people celebrated their deliverance by putting up lanterns of all shapes and colours along the streets on the first full moon of the year.

The lanterns add a magic touch to the night, providing a wonderful backdrop for lion and dragon dances and fireworks.

Some cities in north China make lanterns from blocks of ice!

The delicacies tied to the Lantern Festival are Yuan Xiao and Tang Yuan, which consist of balls of rice, sometimes rolled around a filling of sesame, peanuts, vegetable, or meat. Tang Yuan are often cooked in red-bean and other kinds of soup. The round shape is a symbol of wholeness and unity.

In order to attend the talk, reserve a seat by calling the China Cultural Centre on 2122 5055 or drop an e-mail to maltaccc@gmail.com.