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Taiwan's Lantern Festival Goes Porcine

If you reckon you're a bit of a pig, then get ready, because your year is coming. Yep, Chinese New Year is fast approaching and they'll be celebrating in Taiwan with the Taiwan Lantern Festival, bringing in the Year of the Pig with a grunt and a snort.

The big party takes place in Chiayi County from March 4-11 and the central festive lantern will be in the shape of a Taiwanese mountain boar. This giant pig will not only represent the new year on the Chinese calendar but also a spot of advertising: its collar will be made from Chungwa Telecom's newest 3G mobile phone.

But don't worry, it ain't all pigs and tacky marketing. From New Year's Day (February 18) until the end of the lantern festival, fireworks displays will be the order of the day: they promise 23 different shows during New Year celebrations. So hop a flight to Taiwan if you need some piggy celebrations and a lot of big bangs.

[Photo: liechtenrose]

Related Stories:
· Chiayi to Host 2007 Lantern Festival [China Post]