Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Corner view / contrasts

Taken on the 28th of October in the town where I was born. A parade with lampions (or Japanese lanterns as a dictionary says). On the 28th they celebrate a foundation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. However, for long years this holiday was covered by a different one, the Great October Revolution in Russia, which was supposed to ban a national feast in favor of a then more important one. A lampion parade was obligatory for school kids like me. (Have been talking a lot about living under communism lately, he..) And it is clearly visible what these two holidays absorbed - All Saints Day.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Strangely familiar! It's the Chinese moon festival at this time of year, and as children in Hong Kong we would join the festivities carrying lanterns very similar to these ones.

Unknown said...

I don't really know where this lantern parade came from. I associated with souls as it is on the same days. It was the only nice one out of all the obligatory activities we had to take part in.

Anonymous said...

souls? interesting.

wow beautiful shots of large lit bubbles floating in the dark airy backgrounds.

la ninja said...

political holidays can be fickle, as this one shows, they change depending on the regime.
much better to pray for everyone's soul, regardless their national/political stance, don't you think? (and I'm not even a believer but I find anything based on love goes a long way and can suppress suffering of times past.)

there. you made me be serious and I don't do that often around these here internet parts! :)

Ian said...

I have noticed that there is a sort of nostalgia for communist Eastern Europe emerging. We tend to forget the bad things.

Cate said...

big contrast. you MUST celebrate, so strange.

but, those lanterns are very very beautiful. and i would love to hear more about living under communism.

Unknown said...

Life and death, light and night...

;) said...

Like Denis I can say you show us life and death...

Francesca said...

I find it very interesting when you write about living under communism. Over on this side, we also knew nothing really of what it was like there. And we still probably don't.

Joyce said...

The lanterns are a great way to celebrate souls. xoxo

Anonymous said...

I realy love lampions... such a nice light on it !!!