China

The last day of the New Year Festival is celebrated in Chinese communities with elaborate decorated paper lanterns. Processions are held, often with children taking a major role. Firecrackers and dragon dances may round out the festivities. This is basically a secular festival, though the 15th is, of course, an auspicious day.

Other customs include eating taro under the lanterns, modeling cotton balls out of wheat flour and sticking them in fields as protection against danger, and the eating of tang, glutinous rice-flour balls with sweet filling in a soup.

Source:   Chinese Traditional Festivals by Marie-Luise Latsch. Beijing, China: New World Press, 1984, pp. 41-44.

Taiwan

Lanterns of all shapes are made of this festival. They include the Lotus Blossom, animal of the Chinese horoscope for that year, and Kuan Kung's great sword. A candle is usually burned inside the children's lanterns, with electric bulbs used in temple exhibits. The larger temples compete with each other in the size and beauty of lanterns. Sometimes complete historical scenes are depicted, such as the visit of Wen Wang at the beginning of the Chou Dynasty (1050 B.C.) to the famous minister Chiang T'ai-kung, who is seen fishing with a pole but no hook.

The origin of the lanterns was supposedly from an ancient ceremony welcoming back the Spring light. Willow branches and lanterns were used, as the willow is said to welcome spring rains. Another tradition says that the lanterns are used to ward off evil spirits which roam about on this night, the first full moon of the new year. Evil spirits can be seen in the eerie light made by the lanterns, and thus be avoided. But as long ago as the T'ang Dynasty, it had become a purely secular feast, the Emperor decreeing that all of Ch'ang An, the ancient capitol, be decked out in great splendor for the entertainment of the court and the foreign visitors. A Ming Emperor was supposed to have set out so many lanterns that even Buddha came down from the heaven to see it.

Usually a dragon dance is performed in the streets, consisting of eight young men carrying a huge dragon made of cloth and strung on bamboo poles. The dragon is eternally chasing a large red pearl, carried by the leader of the group. Bystanders throw firecrackers at the performers and enjoy watching the dragon-dancers then scramble to get our from under the exploding fireworks.

Source:   Taiwan Feasts and Customs by Michael R. Saso. Hsinchu, Taiwan: Chabanal Language Institute, pp. 30-31.

Taiwan

This is the birthday of Thian-koan Tai-te, the Great Emperor official of the Heavens. He is one of the Taoist Trinity, who rule the heaven, earth and water. Thus the year is divided into three parts: heaven, earth, and water. The first lunar moon marks the "upper principle" (the heaven).

While the Lantern Festival is celebrated on the evening of the same day, the Lantern Festival is more of a children's holiday, while the birthday of Thian-koan centers around the popular temples.

Source:   Taiwan Feasts and Customs by Michael R. Saso. Hsinchu, Taiwan: Chabanal Language Institute, p. 26.

Okinawa

On the sixteenth day of the first moon, Okinawans visit family graves, where they clean them and offer food and prayers.

Source: Studies of Okinawan Village Life by Clarence J. Glacken. Scientific Investigations in the Ryukyu Islands (SIRI) Report no. 4. Washington, D.C., Pacific Science Board Council, 1953, p. 323.

China

On the nineteenth day of the first moon, the "Rat's Wedding Day" is observed in some Chinese households. Everyone goes to bed early so as not to disturb the revels of their four-footed tenants. An offering is placed out to induce the more benevolent rodents to exercise restraint over the more unruly of their tribe, to moderate their appetites during the year, or at least divert their attentions from the home of their benefactor.

If a very large rat takes up resident in a house, it is treated as an honored guest, for this is the Money Rat whose arrival indicates the advent of affluence, more than compensating for his board and lodging.

Source:   Chinese Creeds and Customs by V.R. Burkhardt. Hong Kong: South China Morning Post, 1982, p. 197.

Nepal

This is a solar holiday, celebrating the day on which the sun heads back toward the northern hemisphere. Though this day is usually very cold, the Nepalese visit holy bathing spots on this day. Musicians and singers perform on open porches on the river's edge.

Source:   The Holy Month of Magh by Mary K. Anderson, in The Festivals of Nepal. London: Allen and Unwin, 1971, pp. 223-224.

Japan

Commemorating the last day of winter according to the lunar calendar, this festival is held in all major temples throughout the country. The main attraction is mame-maki (bean throwing) when the temple priests throw handfuls of beans to the crowd who chant in unison, "Fuku wa uchi, oni wa soto" (in with good luck, out with the devils). Some people go home and at the number of beans that correspond with their age to ensure their good luck.

Source:   Japan Handbook by J.D. Bisignani. Chico, CA: Moon Publications, 1983, p. 73.

Japan

Children in Akita prefecture, Japan, build kamakura (igloos) and serve sake to passing neighbors. In the rear is a snowy alcove dedicated to Suijin, the god of water, whom they honor to ensure good crops in the coming year. The children are given coins or fruit in return.

Source:   Japan Handbook by J.D. Bisignani. Chico, CA: Moon Publications, 1983, p. 73-74.

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