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Culture
Lantern Flying
Fàng Tiāndēng
The short answer
Releasing sky lanterns (放天燈) is a Pingxi (平溪) tradition in New Taipei, said to date from the 19th century when villagers signalled safety. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held around the Lantern Festival.
Where
Taiwan
Category
Festival|Custom
When
Year-round in Pingxi; main festival around the Lantern Festival (元宵節), 15th day of the 1st lunar month
Origin
19th Century
What it is
Releasing sky lanterns with wishes into the night sky
Why it matters
A beautiful tradition for expressing hopes and honoring ancestors
Fun fact
Each lantern colour has a meaning: red for health, yellow for wealth, pink for love.
Kungfucius says: Write your wishes on paper, set it on fire and send it into the sky. Very spiritual, mildly flammable.
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