The Philippines’ century-old giant lantern festival has returned after a two-year hiatus from in-person celebrations due to COVID-19, with spectators flocking to San Fernando city in Pampanga province to enjoy the festivity from December 17 to January 1, 2023.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines’ century-oldgiant lantern festival has returned after a two-year hiatus from in-personcelebrations due to COVID-19, with spectators flocking to San Fernando city inPampanga province to enjoy the festivity from December 17 to January 1, 2023.
This year, 10 villages in the city are competing in thegiant lantern light show, with one lantern designed to pay tribute to medicalworkers during the pandemic.
Their representative lanterns measure some 20 feet indiameter and contain over 8,000 light bulbs that flicker in sync with Christmassongs and pop music played in the background.
It takes two to three months and dozens of people to make agiant lantern, typically costing about 16,000 USD. The winning village thisyear is set to obtain about 5,000 USD, double the prize in previous years.
Home and shops in the Philippines, the largest Catholiccountry in Asia, hang lanterns during the Christmas season. Pampanga's lanterntradition dates back to 1908, with the first giant lantern festival takingplace after electricity was introduced in San Fernando in the early 1930s./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: Rappler) 
