Lantern Carnival in 2012

This year the Lantern Festival is on the 6th of February. I saw many Chinese style big lanterns in display and took some photos to share with you.

Every year a lantern carnival will be held at Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which is the Chinese Valentine’s Day. The default location is next to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. This time the displayed area is larger than usual, extending to Sausbury Garden as well.

The lantern carnival keeps changing theme, for example, the Chinese Zodiac has been adopted for 2012. Visitors could see big lanterns of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. My photos are arranged according to the standard sequence – begins with rat and ends with pig.

1.      Rat

2.      Ox

3.      Tiger

4.      Rabbit

5.      Dragon (2012 is the year of Dragon. Its lantern is the biggest. 
What a pity for not capturing the whole lantern in one picture!)

6.      Snake

7.      Horse

8.      Goat

9.      Monkey

10.  Rooster

11.  Dog

12.  Pig

Besides the Chinese Zodiac lanterns, visitors will also see big lanterns of some famous Chinese characters that symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

Fish (The Chinese name has the same pronunciation as another Chinese word, surplus. Thus, people will bless one another with the symbolic meaning “surplus every year”.)

The God of Wealth

The Chinese believe that seeing peacock fully opened will bring good luck to its viewers.

Wish you a prosperous year of Dragon and a happy Valentine’s Day!

Author’s note:

Big lanterns are eye-catching. Special flower arrangements and mall or shop displays are also peculiar enough to attract people’s attention and provoke their enthusiasm to take photos. Click into the two articles below and feast your eyes with amusing beauties.

When Animals and Flowers Fall in Love Together

Toy Story Franchise and Collection