In the district of Pingxi, or Pinghsi, in northern Taiwan, they hold a Festival of Lanterns each year, 15 days after the Lunar New Year. People write their hopes, dreams, and wishes on sky lanterns, light a flame inside, and let the lantern rise up to the heavens. The lanterns aren't small - about 60 cm across by 120 high (2 feet by 4 feet).
Everyone releases their lanterns at much the same time and the skies become full with hundreds of lights. According to the sender of this card, "it becomes a painting as in Van Gogh's Starry Night".
I hope you see all your wishes and dreams come true this year.
Click on the button to visit Jocelyn's cuckootree to take part in Our Wonderful World Tuesday. If you join in this week, you could win a lovely postcard.
Taiwan is definitely high on my list at the moment. I'm hoping to meet my friend half way there now that she's migrated to NZ. I think it just looks like such a colourful country rich in culture, tradition and culinary delights. This is a gorgeous postcard!
ReplyDeleteI would love to be there when the sky is full of them. A really great card.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea is beautiful. Also because so many of us never really know what our "hopes, dreams, and wishes" actually are. Perhaps if we articulated what we truly wanted many people would be happier.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being the first to join in Sheila. ^_^
They really look spectacular especially in large numbers. It's a shame they cause so many problems for farmers :-(
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day. :)
ReplyDeleteThey always look lovely floating in the night air but it must be amazing sight to see in numbers, what a lovely tradition.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love those lights. Unfortunately they aren't allowed any more here in Austria...
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to send wishes heavenward. I, too, hope all of your wishes come true, Sheila.
ReplyDeleteI love those lanterns, they look really great. We have some people who launch them in Kiev, I also did that several times... And the wishes - they came true :)
ReplyDeleteThis postcard really looks amazing! It must be so amazing to see 'in person'. I couldn't not be remembered of the latest (or I think it is) Disney: Tangled. I think I recall there's a scene with the main character looking out her window and noticing the lantern from her original village (people sending wishes on her birthday if I recall). But then again, this tradition would always make for a poetic moment, I think.
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