It might not snow, but 麻豆传媒映画will definitely be aglow this Christmas season.
Making its debut among the city鈥檚 many illuminating events is the 麻豆传媒映画Chinese Lantern Festival, a first-in-Canada display that brings the ancient tradition of Chinese lantern craftsmanship to the PNE.
From Dec. 15, a total of 35 displays will be featured across 14 acres of the exhibition grounds, falling into traditional themes of the dragon, white pagoda, kylin (a mythical beast and favourable omen) and huabiao, the jade structures of Beijing鈥檚 Forbidden City.
It promises to be a lavish, eye-popping festival, and Westender recently got a sneak peek of the displays under construction.
Chinese cultural festival attach茅 Bin Zhu was in town to explain the significance behind the displays, and that of lantern festivals in general, which have a history going back two millennia. Traditionally lit on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, the lanterns were created to gain the favour of Taiyi, god of heaven, and assist in prayers for a good harvest.
The festivals take place in every major Chinese city to this day, and now Zhu, through his company Sichuan Tianyu Culture Communication, is spreading the tradition across the world, including cities in Europe, the Middle East and North America.
Even when they鈥檙e not illuminated, these handcrafted silk lanterns 鈥� from flowers to moons, fish, penguins and, of course, dragons 鈥� pop with vibrant colour.
Particularly impressive will be the centrepiece of the festival: a 20-metre-high Buddhist pagoda whose columns are constructed from 10,000 pieces of china woven on to a metal frame. A crane is scheduled to lift the columns into place later this week.
As well as wandering through the lavish displays, attendees will be able to hear storytellers relate the traditional tales behind five lantern vignettes, said PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be such a unique experience. We're hoping to get families of all ethnicities, bringing their kids to come and listen to the stories,鈥� she said.
The project has been 鈥渕any years in the making,鈥� she said, adding that it鈥檚 hoped this will be the first instalment of a new annual tradition for the city.
As part of the festival, two shows will also take place every night at the PNE Amphitheatre, featuring Chinese acrobatics, plate spinners and folk dancing, among other performances.
鈥� The Chinese Lantern Festival runs Dec. 15, 2017 to Jan. 21, 2018; 5-10 p.m. (Sun-Thu) and 5-11 p.m. (Fri-Sat); $19 adults/$14.50 seniors/$13.50 children aged 4-11.
