Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Brightly lit snake lanterns with large heads that are different from the traditional image of the slippery reptile are being made in a workshop in eastern China.
These lanterns have cute, cartoony big eyes and smiles instead of flickering tongues. The lanterns are on display at parks, tourist sites and shopping malls.
“When you come close, you can see they look like snakes, but with a cute feeling,” said Wang Yongxun, the owner of the workshop in Weifang city in Shandong province.
The lanterns are painted in bright colours, which are believed to bring good luck during the Lunar New Year (see graphic). Wang said that the lanterns also have dragon elements since the snake is called the “little dragon” in Chinese culture.
The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle, with a different animal for each year. The Year of the Snake, which began on January 29, follows the Year of the Dragon.
In China, the snake stands for spirituality, reproduction and longevity, but it can also represent evil and danger.
While snakes may create feelings of fear, they were seen as guardians of the home in ancient Chinese culture, and harming them was believed to bring bad luck, according to Wang Juan, a folklore expert at Peking University.
Questions
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What is the meaning behind the different bright colours on the lanterns?
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How do people in China feel about snakes?
