I've wanted to attend the local Lantern Parade ever since I got here so I got really excited when I learned that the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was around the corner. It's also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. A very popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese communities. The highlight of course is the Lantern Procession held last Saturday, the 18th of September. And my honey took me there. ^^
The procession wasn't starting till about seven in the evening so we hopped on the trains and went to Chinatown to check out the Street Light-up and the bazaar first. Emerging from the MRT, you'd immediately see dozens of paper lanterns forming a canopy over the exit. They came in different shades, shapes and sizes. So pretty!
Once we got our fill of this sight and snapped quite a few photos, we browsed through the wares displayed in the shops and the streets. We found more lanterns some of them for sale, shawls of different sizes and make, Chinese fans and parasols, personalized chopsticks, fruits, jewelry, clothes, toys, trinkets and more. Many things colorful and many things round. There were artists as well. Some will draw a colorful Chinese painting for you on the spot or play lilting tunes. All promised a good discount. Who could resist snagging a few?
They say pomelos are very lucky since the Chinese word for pomelo sounds like the word for "to have."
There were a lot of people but still enough elbow room. Many were flashing away with their cameras or unfolding and lighting lanterns for their children. Some we're even doing both.
Pretty soon it was dark. Time to head out to Eu Tong Sen Street to wait for the Mass Lantern Procession. =D
No comments:
Post a Comment