"The real essence of the traditional folk art is released when the light shines through the paper-cuts," said Zou, noting that the lantern shows in big cities seem to only care about appearance while losing the traditional appeal.The amount of time and effort required for lantern-making has led to the dwindling numbers of handicrafters, but Zou still insists on it as he has a deep affection for the traditional handicraft."Sending lights is our local custom and it's quite popular. "Now, we use glue, and it's more efficient."In Zou's eyes, the beauty of traditional lanterns lies in the interaction between light and paper-cutting. Zou said adhesive paste was used years ago, but it would become hard overnight. "If it's too tender, it will easily shrink, and if it's too old, it will easily break," said Zou, adding that the more accurately cut the bamboo is, the better the lanterns will be.Paper-cutting relates much to the design, which usually adopts symmetrical patterns so that the light can better radiate out from the inside.The craft of pasting paper-cuts has been improved in recent years. This year, Zou made about 500 lanterns that were sent out to people from over 120 surrounding villages.Making a lantern usually takes three steps - framing, paper-cutting, and pasting.The lantern frame requires bamboo that has grown for about two years - not too tender or too old. Accompanied by the sounds of gongs and drums, children carry small lanterns while adults shoulder larger traditional lanterns - the "lantern parade" begins.It is lantern handicrafters' persistence that keeps the traditions alive.For Zou, the Spring Festival is the busiest time of the year, leaving him with only three or four hours of sleep after making lanterns all day. In Wenchang, people usually "send lights" to celebrate and express their wishes and expectations, a tradition dating back more than 100 years.When evening falls, the lanterns are lit. 14 (Xinhua) - Holding a small steel file in one calloused hand and a hammer in the other, Zou Hongda finished a thick pile of paper-cutting artwork after a few knocks with his trusty tool.Zou, 73, has been making festive lanterns for over 40 years in Baiyan Village of Wenchang City, south China's Hainan Province.The typical structure of the traditional handicraft includes lanterns with auspicious Chinese characters such as "Fu" and "Xi," which mean fortune and happiness.The Lantern Festival, which falls on Tuesday this year, is the climactic end to the Chinese New Year holiday. Spot clean.46oYsiVDsfu go. article Handicrafter's 40 years of persistence lights up Lantern Festival /e3pmh1tuv/ed6gjo5k9 HAIKOU, Feb. Makes a great gift too!ĭurable ribbon-covered wire hanger. Let it bring fresh style to your patio, porch or anywhere inside your home. Piece features bold colors, textures and patterns for added interest.Ĭrafted of all-weather polypropylene, this door hanger is mildew and fade resistant, safe to be used indoors or out. This colorful piece features a very happy and brightly colored jack-o-lantern who is just delighted to greet guests and passers by. It makes a fun alternative to wreaths and looks great on any door or wall. Bring fall colors and a touch of whimsy to any space with our Indoor/Outdoor Jack-O-Lantern Hooked Door Hanger.
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