Driving up to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, one can see layers upon layers of neon lights glow, fueling excitement for the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival.
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, which ran from November 24 to January 14, celebrated the holiday season and upcoming Chinese New Year with a festival of cultural arts, including performances and handmade lanterns.
Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc., the American subsidiary of Sichuan Tianyu, an international design and manufacturing company in Zigong, China, produced the lantern festivals in Cary, Columbus, Indianapolis and Little Rock this year. The 2017-18 festival was the third annual production in Cary, and four more annual festivals are confirmed.
Although Chinese lantern festivals traditionally celebrate Chinese New Year, which falls on February 16 this year, Tianyu Arts & Culture holds the festivals during the American holiday season. The combination of Chinese and American culture is evident from the lanterns, particularly in the display of Santa Claus, which had a sign reading, “he is the beloved Father Christmas to European children.”
Lantern festivals assist in introducing Chinese culture to other populations in North Carolina. Near the display of Santa Claus was the display of Caishen, the god of wealth and prosperity in Chinese folk religion and Daoism. Introducing North Carolinians to Chinese culture is particularly important as Asian-Americans are the fastest growing demographic in North Carolina, especially in Raleigh and Charlotte, according to a 2016 study.
One person interested in the Chinese culture was senior Asher Tate, who attended the festival with a group of friends. Tate took Chinese from kindergarten to sophomore year and wanted to reconnect with Chinese culture.
“I recommend the festival next year for anyone who wants to explore a different culture and see cool things,” Tate said.
Performances at the festival included Chinese contortion and face-changing. The contortionist, Chen Meimei, placed candles on her feet, hands and then in her mouth while performing acrobatics. Face-changing, also called bian lian, is an ancient Chinese art in Sichuan opera that consists of changing brightly colored masks very quickly, with techniques that are traditionally passed on within families.
The audience in Cary, even on a slow, rainy Thursday night, watched the performances intently, audibly gasping when bian lian performer Liu Xia changed masks suddenly, seemingly in an instant.
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival will return to Cary in winter 2018 with new exclusive lanterns and insight into Chinese culture. Until then, interested students can see Sichuan Tianyu’s lanterns in Skyfall, the 2012 James Bond movie.
Good to know the festival is still up and running! I went last year and had so much fun.