February is one of the more festive times of the year, with some of the most widely celebrated holidays taking place throughout the month. Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, has more than 4,000 years of history and is one of the most important holidays of the year not only for the Chinese people, but also for those throughout East and Central Asia. Valentine’s Day, observed across the globe on February 14, is a day when people—especially lovers—express feelings of love, affection and friendship.
In addition to holidays, February is also a month in which a number of highly anticipated events take place. Included among this month’s festivities are the Super Bowl, the annual championship game of the United States’ National Football League (NFL), as well as the Academy Awards, an annual American ceremony that recognizes cinematic achievements in the film industry.
The Steel Wire brings you interesting stories regarding how steel plays a role in each of these prominent holidays and events.
Steel Fireworks Light Up a Steel City During Chinese New Year: For the past 500 years in Hebei Province, China, steelmakers—often unable to afford real fireworks—have carried on the tradition of dashuha, or throwing molten iron to create spectacular “fireworks.” In recent years, this art has become the centerpiece of the area’s New Year’s celebrations, as well as a vastly popular tourist attraction that people from all over the country travel to see.
Levi’s® Stadium: The World’s Most Sustainable Steel Football Arena: The newly constructed Levi’s® Stadium is home to the San Francisco 49ers and is the venue for the upcoming 2016 Super Bowl. The stadium, which has been called the most technologically advanced sports facility in the US, is made from over 14,000 pieces of steel.
Cupid’s Steel Arrows: Perhaps no other character is more synonymous with Valentine’s Day than Cupid, the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. In Roman mythology, Cupid’s steel arrows produced a love wound incapable of healing. Eros, his Greek mythology counterpart, used iron arrows that made people fall out of love, so much so to the point of detestation. Learn more about the role steel played in classical mythology.
Hearts of Steel: Just like Cupid, the heart is another iconic symbol of love. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, The Steel Wire has found some of the most interesting heart-inspired sculptures that are representative of the strength and eternity of love. Learn a bit more about these beautiful, meaningful sculptures.
Glienicke Bridge: The Real Bridge of Spies: Nominated for Best Movie for this year’s Academy Awards, “Bridge of Spies” is a film about the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin. This steel bridge was a meeting point for spies to exchange information during the Cold War.