Pinocchio was carved from wood by the kind carpenter Geppetto, who gave him his name. With the help of a fairy, Pinocchio is able to speak and act like a human. During a cold winter, Geppetto even sells his own clothes to send him to school, yet Pinocchio is lured away by a circus and swept into all kinds of adventures. After a reckless life, he even ends up inside the belly of a giant whale, but through Geppetto’s devoted love he is rescued and eventually becomes a real boy. This moral tale, where lying makes Pinocchio’s nose grow long, has been parodied in countless ways, often bringing laughter while reminding us of its timeless lesson.
This year’s lantern is a traditional Hanji lantern inspired by one of the most beloved Korean folktales among children: Granny Red Bean Porridge and the Tiger . Once upon a time, deep in the mountains, there lived an old woman who cultivated red beans. She was so skilled at making red bean porridge that people called her “Granny Red Bean Porridge.” One peaceful day, a tiger the size of a house suddenly appeared and threatened to eat her. Granny pleaded, “I don’t mind dying, but if I do, who will make this delicious porridge? Come back in the snowy winter. You can enjoy the porridge then—and eat me if you still want to.” She barely managed to persuade the tiger to leave. Left with no one to turn to, the old woman wept alone. Just then, the items in her home—her carrying frame, a straw mat, an awl, some dung, an egg, and even a softshell turtle—gathered around and told her not to worry. When winter came and the tiger returned on the day of the winter solstice, Granny and her loyal “fri...
