The air in China on Sunday was not only filled with the strong
smell of?firecrackers, but also the fragrance of flowers to
celebrate the
Lantern Festival, the last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year
festive season, also known as the
Spring Festival.
The bang of firecrackers and colorful fireworks displays filled
the Sunday night sky in Beijing as people scrambled to set them off
for the last time this year.
Beijing, along with several other cities, lifted a 12-year ban
on fireworks in the urban areas following public demand but only
for the duration of the Lunar New Year festivities. For thousands
of years, the Chinese have set off fireworks during the Spring
Festival to ward off evil.
But they were banned in 1994 because of the high casualty
rate.
"It's like being a child again. Watching lantern shows, burning
firecrackers and eating 'yuan xiao' (or sweet dumplings) with the
whole family. That's the way to spend a New Year," said Ying Sheng,
a Beijing citizen studying at a local college.
The Beijing municipal government, however, was still on high
alert. More than 150,000 people and 600 police cars were patrolling
the city on Sunday night, according to the municipal
government.
Firecrackers and happy reveling aside, there is also a romantic
side to the Spring Festival. The Lantern Festival, celebrated on
the last day of the Lunar New Year festivities, is considered to be
China's Valentine's Day.
In ancient China, girls seldom left their houses in accordance
with traditional moral codes, but they were allowed to watch
lantern shows during the Lantern Festival, a rare chance for the
ancient Chinese young people to look for their "Mr. or Miss
Right".
In Haikou,
Hainan Province, young people celebrated the night in the
traditional way, by exchanging flowers during the lantern show.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, Xiao Li was waiting for his girlfriend at the
gate of the Wanlu Park, with a red rose in his hand. The
24-year-old young man was planning to propose.
"I hope she will say 'yes' and I chose today to make the
proposal because I believe the tradition can bring us luck and
happiness," Xiao Li said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2006)