Paper Crafting Technique of Lanterns for Newborn Sons 丁燈紮作技藝, Sam Tung Uk 三棟屋博物館, 2 Kwu Uk Lane, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong Declared Monuments
Excerpt from the plaque:
Paper Crafting Technique of Lanterns for Newborn Sons
Many traditional villages in the New Territories hold a Lantern Lighting Ceremony 點燈習俗. The Cantonese words “Dang” 燈 and “Ding” 丁 are homophones. Lanterns for newborn sons are hung in ancestral halls or worship venues during a period from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year to inform the ancestors of the new births. At the same time, they convey the meaning of continuing to “give birth to a baby boy” next year. In some walled villages, a note with the name of the baby boy and auspicious objects are attached under the lantern. The Lantern Lighting Ceremony includes lantern lighting, lantern celebrations, lantern dousing and lantern burning. The lantern displayed in the exhibition is in the shape of an octagonal base and is made of bamboo strips, tissue paper, coloured paper, paper decorations featuring auspicious motifs.
Paper Crafting Technique of Lanterns for Newborn Sons 丁燈紮作技藝, Sam Tung Uk 三棟屋博物館, 2 Kwu Uk Lane, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong Declared Monuments
Excerpt from the plaque:
Paper Crafting Technique of Lanterns for Newborn Sons
Many traditional villages in the New Territories hold a Lantern Lighting Ceremony 點燈習俗. The Cantonese words “Dang” 燈 and “Ding” 丁 are homophones. Lanterns for newborn sons are hung in ancestral halls or worship venues during a period from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year to inform the ancestors of the new births. At the same time, they convey the meaning of continuing to “give birth to a baby boy” next year. In some walled villages, a note with the name of the baby boy and auspicious objects are attached under the lantern. The Lantern Lighting Ceremony includes lantern lighting, lantern celebrations, lantern dousing and lantern burning. The lantern displayed in the exhibition is in the shape of an octagonal base and is made of bamboo strips, tissue paper, coloured paper, paper decorations featuring auspicious motifs.