Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival signals the end of the New Year celebration.  We visited Baotu Springs for the big event.  Remember, Jinan is the city of natural springs.  Many traditional stories were told through lighted displays.  The Disneyland parade would be a similar comparison.

Rick is posing with the “qiezi” sign.  It sounds like “cheese” but means eggplant.  The Chinese always use that in photos.

Cristal Gordon and I are in front of another story display.  The lights are not yet illuminated.  Notice my Chinese haircut, or rather, scalping.  It may take four more months to see hair again.  I’m afraid the gray is here to stay.

Masks are an important part of the celebration.

The displays are beautiful.   There must have been one million people there that night who would also agree.

The heart shaped walkway was spectacular!

The fish/dragon is an important symbol for any year in China.

These artificial, lighted birds also “sang” throughout the evening.  The real birds left their mark.  One such mark was on Rick’s coat.

This traditional money bag presented a stunning scene as it reflected in the natural spring.  What a sight!

Every scene is better with Rick in the picture.

This hilarious display depicts a boy lighting fireworks.  Notice he has one eye closed.  Fireworks frighten away the evil spirits that would afflict the new year.  They are a very important part of the celebration.  I have never seen/heard so many in a two week period.