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Summary Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou lit up a giant rabbit themed lantern as celebrations kicked off across the island on Thursday for the annual Lantern Festival.
Held on the first full-moon night of the first lunar month, the festival is one of the most important events marking the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. This year, Taiwanese are celebrating the new year of the rabbit with century-old traditions.In the eastern Taitung county, men volunteered to be showered with fireworks, which is considered as a stroke of good luck, in a tradition known as bombarding Lord Han Dan. The custom involves a man dressed up as Han Dan, the god of wealth, and allowing people to throw firecrackers at him.
