The Intergallery of the Belarusian National Technical University presents the Chinese Lantern Festival (Yuansyao)
The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. In China in the 10th century the custom to light the colorful lanterns at night was originated. Usually a great variety of different shapes and colors of lanterns, which resemble various animals, flowers and fruits were hanging in the centre of a city. In the countryside fireworks, walking on stilts, dragon’s dances, round dances “yange”, riding on a swing and other activities were organized. The Lantern Festival ends the Chinese New Year celebrations. From the 11th century the festival has become ubiquitous in China. On that day “yuansyao” is eating, it is cooked from glutinous rice with sweet filling and candied fruit. It has the shape of a ball and symbolizes the happiness of united family. Usually during this holiday people are guessing the riddles, written on the lanterns. The Lantern Festival is the Chinese Valentine’s Day. According to the ancient custom, at new year night the souls of dead ancestors come down to the earth in order to celebrate it with close ones. And at the Lantern Festival they come back. Millions of lanterns light up their way home.
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The Lantern Festival was held on the 26 February 2013 in the main building of the BNTU. At the exhibition the various kinds of Chinese lanterns were displayed, furthermore, the video-presentation of the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival was shown. Everyone could take part in a master class of making Chinese lanterns and then make their own lantern.
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The tea ceremony for the exhibition’s visitors was arranged, it was performed by the volunteer-teachers of Chinese language of the BNTU – Yuhong Wang and Xiaoyang Song. During the ceremony they told about the secrets of preparing of green tea, also they organized tea tasting and answered a lot of questions.
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