Lantern, like in light?
From Focus Taiwan -- "The 2011 Lantern Festival kicked off (today) Thursday in Miaoli County with the ceremonial lighting of the centerpiece "Auspicious Jade Rabbit" lantern. The main lantern, which is 20.5 meters tall and weighs 30 tons, is just one of the many attractions at the 12-day festival, which is expected to draw at least 5 million visitors, the organizers said."
The day time weather in Taipei, Taiwan is from 57°F to 63°F. Most folks are wearing coats.
Customs are customs, and young people are young people. Most young people have a strong belief in their own immortality. And many young people probably will buy easily into the notion, that during a festival, jumping into icy water for luck is not a bad idea.
Watching the video, I can't help but thinking of many things one can get from jumping into icy water. These things include colds and pneumonia.
Well, I do enjoy watching people having fun at festivals, but the idea of jumping into icy water gives me the chills.
Item from the Associated Press -- "More than 100 Taiwanese young people jumped into the icy water of Yehliu harbour in Taipei on Thursday, in celebration of the start of the island's Lantern Festival. " See the video.