Lantern festivals are deeply rooted in Chinese history and myth, dating back to the ancient dynasties of more than 2,000 years ago. In modern times, lantern festivals traditionally culminate the 15-day celebration of the Chinese New Year. Giant, ornate lanterns of complex design fill cities with light in vivid, festive spectacles.
- Photo courtesy Missouri Botanical
One of the Legends behind the original Chinese Lantern Festival begins… There was a beautiful bird that flew down to the earth from the heaven. It was hunted by fire on the 15th lunar day. The Jade Emperor in Heaven was very angry, because the bird was his favorite one. He ordered to destroy the village and kill all people with a storm. The daughter of Jade Emperor heard of this act of vengence, and warned the villagers to prepare for that. Everybody worried about it and no one had any idea how to face the fact.
Luckily, a wise man past the village made the suggestion that every house should hang red lanterns around the house, setup campfire on the street, explode the bamboo firecracker, make fireworks on 14th, 15th, and 16th lunar days. In this way, Jade Emperor might think all village people die under fire and all the villagers can save their lives and properties.
On the night of 15th lunar day, the troop coming down from the heaven looked at the village that was ablaze and returned back to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor. Satisfied with the result, the Jade Emperor decided not to burn down the village. From that day on, people celebrated the anniversary on the 15th lunar day every year by carrying red lanterns on the streets and exploding firecrackers and fireworks.
I love legend and folklore but even better is participating in a continuing practice of such tales. The Missouri Botanical Garden;is featuring the first Chinese Lantern Festival to be hosted in the United States, and only the second to find a home in North America AND you are invited to attend this spectacular event when you join Interlude on a unique journey to St. Louis. The Gardens feature 26 bigger than life lantern scenes forged from steel and silk, including images of dragons, palaces and Terracotta warriors. The festival hails from Zigong, the lantern capital of China and coincides with the Garden’s attentions to China. Each lantern design is full of Chinese tradition, symbolism and meaning. Greeting visitors at the Garden’s entrance is a welcoming gate of dragon pillars, Hua Biao, modeled after a more than 500-year-old pair at the Tiananmen Square in China. The original Chinese gates were built to activate the good luck of the Ching dynasty; similarly, the Garden’s Hua Biao represents good prospect and turns bad luck into good. Standing sentry at the Linnean Plaza entrance, The Terracotta Warrior set features four ten-foot-tall figures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.Chinese opera, an art form rich in tradition that combines music, dance and song, is celebrated with masks in The Faces of Chinese Opera, the only indoor lantern display.
In deference to the 2012 Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac there are several elaborate lantern prominently featuring the dragon, a mythical creature and cultural symbol of Chinese nationality that represents hopes and wishes for a better future. A swirling dragon embraces a pillar rising from the waters of the Garden’s Latzer Fountain. Intricate porcelain dragons, created by stringing and stackinghundreds of porcelain dishes in long, curving rows to form a scaled body, stretch the length of the reflecting pools located between the famed Climatron® conservatory and the Garden’s original stone gate entrance. The Nine-Dragon Mural uses color, expression and emotion to replicate the artistic architecture of a similar sculpture in Beijing. This is only a sampling of what you will experience in this magical place where beauty and artistry prevail. The enormity and complexity of these artistic lanterns are a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to observe.
However, your Interlude adventure has so much more in store for you. How about theatre and a backstage tour – can’t do that everyday!! And you’ll visit the legendary St. Louis Basilica, where in 1912, installation of mosaics in the interior began. Completed in 1988, the mosaics collectively contain 41.5 million glass tesserae pieces in more than 7,000 colors. Covering 83,000 square feet (7,700 m2), it is one of the largest mosaic collections in the world - truly magnificent mosaic art.
Need more? Also featured is a guided tour of “The Hill” a local Italian American neighborhood highlighting traditional Italian markets and bakeries….deliciously delectable!! This tour even lets you follow your personal preferences by allowing time to explore either, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Zoo or the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial or to shop at the St. Louis Galleria with shuttle service provided.
Our St. Louis escorted sojourn celebrates some of the most unique and diversely impressive venues in one central location – close to home!! Please read the attached full itinerary and join us for three days of incredible art, delicious cuisine, and fantastic sightseeing. Who knew St. Louis held so much around that world famous arch!
Chinese Lantern Festival (click here for itinerary)
June 20-22, 2012 (3 days, 2 nights)
- Escorted vacation (0% fuss, 100% vacation!)
- Tour for active adults (share a great experience!)
- Includes home pickup and return (for clients in Marion and adjacent counties)
Eadie – Interlude blog team
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Tags: Chinese Lantern Festival, Escorted Tour, escorted vacation, Missouri Botanical Garden, Muny Theatre, St. Louis, St. Louis Bascillica, The Hill Tour
