Red Lantern Festival

February 12, 2006

Catholic Church in Nanning

Nanning a city of 800,000 has two Protestant churches, a Catholic Church, and a mosque. Today we attended mass in the Catholic Church. The mass, while similar to a mass in the US, was very formal. In 1875, France began a mission in Nanning. The gothic style church was built in the period of Tangzhi Emperor in Ting Dynasty. All of the construction materials-coral, rock, sand, limestone and the bamboo were imported from Weizhou Island which is near Bei Hai. Today the church is composed of a bell tower, a monastery, a school, a hospital and a foundling hospital. There is a bishop, two priests, 7 sisters and about 800 practicing Catholics.

In 1897, during Emperor GuangXu, of Quing Dynasty Protestantism was introduced to Nanning. About 4,500 Protestants gather at the church of ZhongSan Road or the church of GongHe Road to worship.

GongHe Road Church

There is one mosque, 3 imam, and more than 3,200 Moslems in Nanning. The mosque is over 300 years old.

Buddhism was introduced to Nanning during the Dynasty of Tang. Today there are 25 monks and nuns in 10 stages. Over 100,000 Nanning citizens burn incense and pray to Buddha.

Red Lantern Festival

Today is the 15th day of the first month of the Lunar Year; the Lantern Festival takes place under a full moon, and marks the end of Chinese New Year. The Lantern Festival dates back to shrouded legends of the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago.

In one such legend, the Jade Emperor in Heaven was so angered at a town for killing his favorite goose that he decided to destroy it with a storm of fire. However, a good-hearted fairy heard of this act of vengeance, and warned the people of the town to light lanterns throughout the town on the appointed day. The townsfolk did as they were told, and from the Heavens, it looked as if the village was ablaze. Satisfied that his goose had already been avenged, the Jade Emperor decided not to destroy the town. From that day on, people celebrated the anniversary of their deliverance by carrying lanterns of different shapes and colors through the streets on the first full moon of the year.

Nanning Mosque

A popular food for the Red Lantern Festival is Yuan Xiao and Tang Yuan. These are balls of rice or wheat, sometimes rolled around a filling of sesame, peanuts, vegetable, or meat. Tang Yuan are often cooked in red-bean or other kinds of soup. The round shape symbolizes wholeness and unity.

Practicing Catholics

Red Lantern Festival

Sisters of the Nanning Catholic Church

ZhangSan Road Church