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Celebrating the Lantern Festival in Ningbo
Source: Insight Ningbo  | 2022-02-18 15:11:34

  By Xu Zhuowei

  The Lantern Festival is the earliest existing carnival in China, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Various folk activities were held in Ningbo to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

  In Zhanqi Town, Yinzhou District, children from different countries dressed in traditional costumes of "horse lanterns", tried to sing the folk song and enjoyed the festival. Children of different cultural backgrounds laughed, played, and blended with each other.

  "Horse lanterns" is a unique folk art project in Zhanqi Town, meaning "tens of thousands of horses galloping" and "prosperous". The gongs and drums were melodious, and the Erhu and Pipa played in unison. "The green light is high..." kids from Ningbo British International School happily followed the rhythm of the music to start the "first experience of horse lanterns".

  They carried the horse's head in their left hand and the whip in their right, and changed various formations with the sound of gongs and drums. Although their movements were a little rusty, their cute appearance instantly turned many people over.

  In Meishan Street, Beilun District, citizens celebrated the Lantern Festival by holding dragon and lion dance.

  Accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, the folk performance team moved from far to near. The dragon and lion dance team walked in the front. The red-haired lion of Meishan with regional traditions danced with the drums, jumped lightly, and stood up independently... The wonderful performance attracted a cheering crowd.

  In Nantang Old Street, interesting lantern riddles, unique and brilliant lanterns, wonderful performances, and fun garden parties have been launched one after another. It is customary for Ningbo citizens to invite relatives and friends to watch lanterns and guess lantern riddles in the Lantern Festival.

  Another custom of the Lantern Festival that cannot be missed is eating tangyuan, or glutinous balls. The sweet and round delicacies are molded from glutinous rice flour, symbolizing the wholesomeness of the family.

  Chief Adviser: Zhou Fangzhou

  Proofreader: Xu Zhuowei

【Editor:郭静】