Drama Card 3

Level 3-4

The Favourite Goose

There are many different beliefs about the beginnings of the Lantern Festival and the legend below is just one. Make sure your whole group knows all about it.

A story is told that in a place called heaven there once lived an Emperor called Jade. Now one day this emperor, the one they called Jade, became angry at a town for killing his favourite goose. In fact this Jade Emperor was more than just angry. He was furious and he decided to destroy the town with a storm of fire!

Everyone knows that storms of fire can be very nasty storms so it was very lucky that a good hearted fairy just happened to hear of this scary plan. The good hearted fairy warned the town and told the people to light lanterns on the special day.

The townsfolk did as they were told, for everyone knows that good hearted fairies should always be listened to.

The lanterns were lit and from the heavens it looked as if the town was on fire for everywhere the lights of the lantern burned bright. The Jade Emperor looked down and was satisfied and he said to himself, for he could be a grumpy Emperor, "See how the town burns and that will serve the people right for killing my favourite goose. I do not need to destroy it any more."

And so the storm of fire did not come and from that day, on the first full moon of the year, the people celebrated by carrying lanterns of all different shapes and colours through the streets of their town. And people smiled and laughed for this was a happy time.

Your mission

Create a short drama that tells this legend to the rest of the class. Perform it in mime or add words but as you work it out decide which characters could be stilt walkers, for they are an important part of the Lantern Festival.

Stilt walking is a traditional performance and a popular lantern festival event. Some actors even perform plays while walking about on stilts. You might not perform your play on stilts but we still want to know which characters from your story would use them.

See some stilts here.