CHINESE LANTERN DESIGN FULL

PropagationĬhinese lantern can be propagated either by sowing seeds, or by dividing rhizomes to start new plants. If you’re concerned about winter cherry’s ability to spread, I’ll cover tips on keeping it contained in the maintenance section below. officinarum as an ornamental plant or a medicinal one, be aware that it naturalizes easily, spreading via underground rhizomes, and is considered invasive in some areas. Medicinal uses aside, the fruit is reported as tasting either completely bland or exceedingly acidic. While the small, round fruits of this bladder cherry are edible when fully ripe, unripe fruits as well as the other parts of the plant are considered highly toxic if ingested. Like ground cherry and tomatillo, Chinese lantern grows its fruits enclosed within papery calyxes or husks. It was formerly known as Physalis alkekengi but has been reclassified – we’ll get to that story in a bit – and it bears a strong family resemblance to its relatives in the Physalis genus, ground cherry and tomatillo.Ī member of the nightshade or Solanaceae family, Chinese lantern is also related to petunias, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. Cultivation and HistoryĪlkekengi officinarum, or as it is commonly known, “Chinese lantern,” is an herbaceous perennial that is hardy in USDA Zones 3-9.

The subject of this article, on the other hand, is a small, deciduous herbaceous plant known for its papery, red-orange husks. aurantiaca is a perennial covered with yellow flowers that is more often called “Chinese lantern lily.” abutilon is an understory tree that belongs to the mallow family, and S. 6.Before we get started, a bit of clarification is in order.ĭon’t confuse this “Chinese lantern” with two other plants that go by the same common name, Abutilon pictum and Sandersonia aurantiaca.Ī. He then ordered all temples, homes, and royal palaces to light lanterns that evening, which later became known as the Lantern Festival. Historians believe the first lanterns were used during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).Įmperor Han Mingdi, a proponent of Buddhism, found monks who lit lanterns in the temples to show respect to Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Chinese Lanterns Became Popular Over 2,000 Years Ago The Chinese zodiac animal for the year also makes it into New Year lantern design.

CHINESE LANTERN DESIGN FULL

Shape: The round shape symbolizes wholeness and togetherness in China, reminiscent of the full moon, which presides over the Lantern Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.Ĭhinese calligraphy: Common decorative writings represent best wishes for a long, healthy life and a prosperous, wealthy future.Īrt: Typically, lantern crafters will paint dragons for strength, bamboo for resilience, butterflies and flowers for happiness, and trees and plants for growth. Lantern Design is Full of SymbolismĬolor: Aside from the popular red color, pink symbolizes romance, white represents good health, green yields growth, orange means money, yellow brings good luck in school, and light blue and purple make dreams come true. You can watch kung fu demonstrations, experience the fire dragon dance, and of course, view lantern displays. Year after year, this event in Hong Kong is considered the grandest Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in all of China. It was made from 2,360 traditional Chinese lanterns and took 35 people 13 days to build. The fish-shaped sculpture measured over 36 x 9 x 13 meters (119 x 31 x 43 feet). In 2011, the biggest Mid-Autumn Festival event hosted in Hong Kong's Victoria Park set a Guinness World Record for the largest lantern sculpture. Hong Kong Holds the Lantern Display Record

This festival takes place near a river, pond, or lake, and features floating lanterns in different shapes and designs. These lanterns are similar to hot air balloons, propelled by a small flame that creates hot air to send the balloon into the night sky.įloating lanterns are also common during lantern celebrations, like the Dragon Boat Festival. On holidays such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, you can find flying lanterns throughout China. The hanging lantern is thought to bring protection and good luck. The most common type is the hanging lantern, which is hung in homes and in public spaces.

Chinese lantern design