The Lantern Festival and St. Valentine's Day (元宵節加上情人節)

#2014-0214

Several hours ago I saw Catherine's message for me on Facebook: "Happy Valentine's Day to Jerry and Jean Huang, Taichung's most romantic couple ever!" I was surprised and happy, and then felt a little embarrassed. Obviously I had something to confess, so I responded, saying: "Thank you so much. But I'm still thinking how to celebrate this special Day. ..."

Since my father became critically ill and later my own condition also turned to be rather bad, I had paid less and less attention to celebrations. I almost forgot about the Lantern Festival, which falls on this very day, the 15th day of the first month by the Chinese lunar calendar. Nor did I really care about the Westerners' "Lover's Day," though in the past I had usually remembered to celebrate it one way or another. Oh, my goodness! Where were Jean and I, and what did we do, on our wedding anniversary -- January 30th? It was the end of the old lunar year. My family and I had a Tuan-Yuan (or "Reunion") dinner on the evening of that day, but we just got ready for the Chinese New Year. I totally forgot that it was, meanwhile, the anniversary of Jean and me!

Now it is February 14, or according to our lunar calendar, the 15th day of the first lunar month. Catherine actually reminded me that I should do something to celebrate this very important day, a day called St. Valentine's Day, a day called the Lantern Festival. Two important events on the same day for us to celebrate!