The Lunar Festival Still Charms

Despite the changing of the society, industrial development and the tensions of modern social life, the Chinese people still think as highly of the traditional festivals as their ancestors did. With the economic prosperity of the country and the peoples' continuing respect for their culture, the Chinese celebrate every lunar festival as gravely, gaily and fervently as in countless centuries past. Among them, the Lunar New Year is still considered most wonderful. On the island of Taiwan, the pleasant atmosphere can be deeply felt in anticipation about a month before the Lunar New Year. Each family begins to prepare salted and dried meat, sundry other foods, candies, biscuits, toys and firecrackers for the forthcoming New Year holidays. In garment stores, department stores, vegetable markets and flower shops, food and other consumer items are amassed for sale. Holidaymakers jam the streets during the shopping season. Although it is often chilly at the end of the year, the peaceful, prosperous picture everywhere gives a warm and pleasant feeling.

In worshiping the kitchen god (performed on the 23rd day of the 12th month), we prepare for a new year to come. Marketplaces are full of the sticky-sweet Year End cakes, new year drawings and verse couplets, candies, melon seeds, gold-brushed and silver-brushed bamboo canes, pine needles and other decorations. Firecrackers explode everywhere outside, and the air is filled with a sulfur smell. On the Lunar New Year's Eve, people worship their ancestors and see the old year out and the new year in by staying up until past midnight. On the day of the New Year itself, everyone goes to visit relatives and to pay courtesy calls. Not until the 6th day of the New Year does life get back to almost normal, at least in some places. But at about the 10th day of the first moon, things liven up again. All kinds of candle-lit lanterns show up on the streets. The Lantern Festival, another pleasant holiday, falls on the 15th day of the first moon, and Tang-yuan (balls of glutinous rice) and Yuan-hsiao (small rice-flour dumplings) are eaten on that day.

Traditionally, Chinese people celebrate the 15th day of the New Year amidst a din of firecracker explosions and burning of incense for good luck. The beating of gongs, drums and cymbals contributes to the cheerful, bustling atmosphere. Even nowadays, we celebrate this spectacular celebration of the holiday season festival as happily as before. Displays of elaborate lanterns are held in many department stores and temples, which particularly fascinate the small children. Many people take part in guessing the answers to riddles written on lanterns in public contests, in which prizes are offered. After eating Yuan-hsiao, boys and girls parade the streets in groups with their candle-lit lanterns in many beautiful colors and many shapes. Some people make a whole night of the celebration until the moon disappears from the sky and the Lantern Festival comes to an end at last.

Premier Chiang Ching-kuo Inspects passenger transportion on Chinese New Year's eve at Taipei

Public amusement place crowded with people

Goods for the New Year plied in stores

Goods for the New Year plied in stores