Chinese Lantern or Yuan-Xiao Festival is on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It marks the last day of the Chinese New Year festival. The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese event since the Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago. According to Taoism, this is the birthday of the Heaven Officer who blesses human luck. During the day, families pray for luck. They decorate the light lanterns around the house and children carry the candle paper lanterns into the street at night. Traditional lanterns are made of paper. Some are designed using zodiac animals, historical figures, and the saint and gods of Taoism or Buddhism. Lantern displays can be found in the town square and temples and in conjunction with this event as well there were fireworks display all over the city once the night falls.
At this celebration an unapproved fireworks display by China's state broadcaster sparked an inferno on Monday night. Central China Television (CCTV) has apologised for the blaze, in which a firefighter died. Thousands of people gathered on the capital's streets to watch as flames up to 10 meters high shot out of the Mandarin Oriental building.
Monday night was the final opportunity for city residents to let off fireworks this year. They are banned in the capital except during the two-week Chinese new year holiday, which closed with the lantern festival.
At this celebration an unapproved fireworks display by China's state broadcaster sparked an inferno on Monday night. Central China Television (CCTV) has apologised for the blaze, in which a firefighter died. Thousands of people gathered on the capital's streets to watch as flames up to 10 meters high shot out of the Mandarin Oriental building.
Monday night was the final opportunity for city residents to let off fireworks this year. They are banned in the capital except during the two-week Chinese new year holiday, which closed with the lantern festival.
