Lantern Parade

This was taken at Bentham Lantern Parade this evening in the poring rain. This was the back section of a bus. I like the way they have included cars and bikes in the design and the duck on the bus! This was taller than a person.

There are lots of different versions of the origins of lantern festivals, but it seems to centre around the Yuan Xiao Festival in China and Taiwan. When the fifteenth day of the Chinese lunar year is the first night to see a full moon. In Chinese tradition at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, thousands of colorful lanterns should be hung out for people to appreciate.

It was a good turn out at the parade and we were stood just outside the pub to make a hasty retreat inside as soon as it passed as we were getting drenched. Inside, it was all decked out in halloween garb which looked good. The battery on my camera had died by that point!