China's embrace of St. Valentine's Day was infused with a shot of double happiness this year as the celebration coincided with this weekend's traditional Lunar Lantern Festival.
The dual holiday was a boon to shopping centers around the country as flowers and chocolates were snapped up along with the traditional Lantern Festival delicacy of boiled glutinous rice dumplings filled with sweet stuffing.
Rose sellers were seen lining the posh Jianguomen business district Friday evening charging up to 40 yuan (US$4.80) a stem, while shoppers were also lining up at stores around the city to buy the sweet dumplings.
Although the Lantern Festival falls on Saturday many Chinese hung their lights and ate the dumplings known as yuanxiao on the festival eve in order to celebrate the two holidays together.
China has increasingly embraced Valentine's Day, which is known as "Lover's Day" in Chinese, since it opened up to the outside world 20 years ago.
The holiday has also spread deep into China's interior where an enterprising shopping center in remote Nanchang city, Jiangxi Province held a marathon kissing contest that began early Friday and garnered national attention.
The winning couple won a pair of diamond rings worth 9,999 yuan (US$1,200).
In Beijing, roses and condoms were handed out free at some shopping centers, while in the evening restaurants were packed with couples who were treated to intimate dinners served with the Lantern Festival delicacy.
The two holidays do not always coincide so closely, as the celebration of the Lantern Festival is marked in accordance with the Lunar calendar, China's traditional calendar for marking the months and years.
(China Daily February 15, 2003)
