Goodbye Autumn, hello Winter! Part Two: Lantern Festival

What do I like in Korea ?! Dynamism, constant novelty, and creativity.

This is me looking through photos from the recently held Lantern Festival in Seoul.

The Lantern Festival is held in Seoul every year, more precisely twice a year. For the first time in spring, on the birthday of Buddha, and the second time in autumn. You probably think, why so often to spend it, go a couple of times, and then not interested.

But I hasten to convince you! Although the festival is held in Korea relatively often, it nevertheless never ceases to amaze. How many times I went there, always staying with a huge backpack of delight and impressions.

Of course, it happens that there are some "lights" that have already decorated the past festivals, but this fact does not overshadow. After all, one already familiar flashlight among dozens of completely new is unlikely to cause a feeling of annoyance or dullness.

On the contrary, it is sometimes even pleasant to meet “works” from past festivals, because for a moment they take us along our temporary corridor to our past. You can forget about the present for a moment and feel a little sad.

Anyone who is not familiar with my previous article about the Lantern Festival in Korea probably thinks that these are different paper lamps, such as the Chinese red lanterns, which can be found in the Chinese district or at the entrance to a Chinese restaurant or shop. But no!

Of course, at the festival there are such “Chinese” lanterns, but the highlight of the holiday are other lanterns. These are huge paper figures of the most different form. They are called lanterns, because when the sun goes behind the mountains, and Seoul envelops the night, dozens of paper figures come alive on the river, more than 10 km long. It seems as though a small town is waking up in this corner of Seoul.

All night, until the sun again rises high, high in the sky, colored lanterns will burn in the river and entertain passersby.

In addition to the “exhibition” of lanterns, each time the festival organizers hold various interesting events. This time, the Chinese financial company UniPay contributed. In special tents it was possible to make your own small “Chinese” lantern from plastic and paper.

The shape of this lamp resembles a lotus flower. The point was free, and all that was needed was to show a bank card with a UniPay badge, or to shoot a tent where the event took place and put it on your page in social networks.

On the petals of the lantern you had to write your wish. When the lantern is ready, he is released to sail along the river. So my lantern took part in the festival, lighting the river until the candle went out.

How many times I come to this festival, I always admire the imagination and talent of the creators of these lamps. Many lamps are so carefully thought out and carefully made that it seems that they are about to come to life.

So, if you suddenly find yourself in our lands in spring or autumn, I strongly recommend to look at the festival of lanterns.

@irisworld

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