China celebrates traditional Lantern Festival

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-09 15:45

Visitors stand in front of a giant lantern to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival at a park in Tianjin municipality February 7, 2009. The Lantern Festival is the last day of the Chinese New Year and falls on February 9 this year. Picture taken February 7, 2009. [Agencies]

At the end of 2007 China rescheduled its national legal holidays, adding three traditional Chinese festivals, including the "Tomb-Sweeping Day," "Dragon Boat Festival" and "Mid-Autumn Festival," as legal holidays.

Hence many advocated that people should enjoy a day off work during the Lantern Festival as well.

"In the past Lantern Festival was a carnival. It is close to the Spring Festival and people are still in the atmosphere and mood of celebration," said Liu Xuebin, curator of the Jinan folk art museum of Shandong province. "No matter judged from its history or the current situation, the day deserves to be a legal holiday," he said.

Li Yunzheng, a folk artist in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, believed that "making traditional festivals legal holidays could help rejuvenating ancient culture". While Feng Jicai, president of the China Folklore Society, is also for the appeal.

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