TFACNEWSLETTER

VOL.40

chee.hong ＠flickr

Celebrating for

Chinese New

Year !

搶 頭 香qiang tou xiang

the First Joss Stick

2010.02.14, Liberty Times

The person who inserts the first joss stick on the 1st day of the New Year into the“censer”could have his / her wishes come true.

One of Taiwanese traditional beliefs says that when the Gates of Heaven opens at Zi-shi (from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., the beginning two hours of a day according to ancient chronometry, 子時) on the 1st day of the New Year, the person who inserts the first joss stick in the ‘Tian-gong-lu’ (the Censer for the Emperor of Heaven, always put in the middle of the courtyard in Taiwan temples, 天公爐) could have his wishes come true.

Therefore, when the middle gate of the temple (usually closed in ordinary days) opens at 11 p.m that night, the crowd of believers rush into the courtyard of the temple and try to be the first one inserting the joss stick and offer flowers, fruits and candles to pray for good fortune.

Source: http://ttf.ncfta.gov.tw

Temple of Heaven 天壇

Luerhmen Tianhou Temple 鹿耳門天后宮

Where can I 搶頭香 in Tainan ?`

Chinese New Year Customs

PreoccupyingNo.236, Ln. 1, Sec. 3, Xiancao St., Annan Dist.

No.16, Ln. 84, Sec. 2, Zhongyi Rd., West Central Dist.

春 聯 chun lian

The Spring Couplets are one kind of conventional calligraphy arts written on red papers and pasted on the doors.

Chinese New Year Customs

Spring Couplet

The custom of pasting the Spring Couplets could be traced back to the ancient manners of hanging on doors a pair of peach wood pieces, which have charms or images of gods on them, to dispel evil spirits. Gradually, the material of the peach wood have been replaced by red papers, and the images of gods drawn on them have evolved into New Year Paintings, the charms, into poetic sentences written

with calligraphic arts and become the Spring Couplets. With the development of modern printing technology, Spring Couplets have been designed in various types, printed on different materials and display a different kind of contemporary aesthetics.

Source: http://ttf.ncfta.gov.tw

photo by Noelas@flickr

In order to continue providing Tainan City residents a convenient library book-lending

service, starts from Jan. 15th, public libraries in Tainan City would begin its

“One-Card-Pass” service. Library cards that were applied originally from Tainan County and Tainan City (in previous administrative divisions) public libraries will be

valid for book-lending service in all public libraries in Greater Tainan City.

After the merge of Tainan County and Tainan City, the original Tainan Municipal After the merge of Tainan County and Tainan City, the original Tainan Municipal

Library is remained as Tainan Municipal Library (including the main library and its

branches); the library within the Tainan County Cultural Centre is now called as Nan

Yin Library, and libraries among the townships of Tainan are changed to

district libraries.

Since the merge of the Great Tainan,

Tainan City Bureau of Cultural Affairs receives a

great fund for book-purchasing, and it will be used for purchasing more books in

order to satisfy needs of the public. At the same time, the department is planning

to host various events so as to encourage and motivate children to use libraries

wisely.For more information, visit Tainan Municipal Library | For more information, visit Tainan Municipal Library | http://www.tnml.tn.edu.tw

In addition, “One-Card-Pass” represents that public who applies for a library card from any of public libraries in Tainan City could

now freely use it in Tainan Municipal Library main library and its

branches, Nan Yin Library, and district libraries for book-lending service.

People who already own a library card does not need to reapply, it

works as well as the new card.

info

39 Libraries

1 CardTaina

n Municip

al Library

| http://w

ww.tnml.tn.ed

u.tw

39 Libraries1 CardCelebrate the merge of two cities

LIFE|生活新聞

Service Scheduleof the Main Hospitals in Tainan during Spring Festival

NOTICE|醫療新聞

New Year's Eve (Saturday, February 13th)Normal service

Sunday, February 14th - Tuesday, February 16th1. Suspension of the general waste collection, and recycling.2. One-third of the street sweeper teams to 2. One-third of the street sweeper teams to sweep the area to maintain hygiene.

Spontaneous sweeper team with motor vehivles will also be operating during the Spring Festival.

Wednesday, February 17th1. Collection points remain unchanged in the morning.2. Normal evening collection, no recycling service.

Waste Collection | notice

EVENTS CALENDAR

新年新氣象

Chinese Lantern Exhibition 06-6321350January 28th – February 21st @ Shennong St. Narcissus Floral Show & Chinese

Lantern Exhibition

Damujiang Spring Festival 06-6335069Xinhua Auditorium (No.142-1, Xinyi Rd., Xinhua Dist., Tainan City)

1. Rabbit Spring Welcome Dance-Fanyu Dance Group(1/30 09:30-10:00)

2. Couplet writing and presenting-Calligrapher wield writing brush on the spot(1/30 2. Couplet writing and presenting-Calligrapher wield writing brush on the spot(1/30

09:30-11:30) and more.

Spring in Historical Downtown 06-29549382/3 – 2/6 @ Eternal Golden Castle, Chikan Tower, Confucius Temple Cultural Zone

and Anping Fort

Sale on 2011 Top 10 Souvenir, Traditional Delicacy and Local Specialties, Folk Craft

Show, Old Toys Exhibition, Live Music, Fun Games

2011 Ten Drum Festival2011 Ten Drum Festival 06-2662225Feb.3~7 @ Ten Drum Culture Village (No. 326, Sec. 2, Wenhua Rd. Rende District,

Tainan City). 3 Japanese groups and 2 Korean groups are invited to perform

during this festival, so as Ten drum performers.

Series of Bee Firecrackers 06-6521264Part of the Lantern Festival events1. The Folk Parade (2/16 8 AM)

2. Yanshui Bee Firecrackers Experience Camp (2/17 8 AM)2. Yanshui Bee Firecrackers Experience Camp (2/17 8 AM)

3. Yanshui Bee Firecrackers Show (2/17 9 PM)

4. Blessing - 3-story high Bee Firecrackers Building (2/17 9:30 PM)

5. Tourist Snacks

Get Onboard! 06-22135972/3 ~ 2/6 (9:00 am ~ 4:30 pm) @Navy Destroyer Museum (Anping Port)

During the Chinese New Year, Navy Destroyer Musuem (decommissioned ROC's During the Chinese New Year, Navy Destroyer Musuem (decommissioned ROC's

Te Yang Destroyer) will be open public without making an appointment. Guides

are provided for the entire tour. There will also be shuttle buses on duty to avoid

traffic. If you take bus route 88 & 99, get off the bus at the stop of "Eternal Golden

Castle" (億載金城), then walk to the Anping Port for a visit.

Tainan Foreigner Assistance Center

2F., No.6, Sec. 2, Yonghua Rd., Tainan CityHotline 1999 for Residents of Tainan

http://foreigner.tainan.gov.tw/en

chee.hong＠flickr