Christchurch and Auckland Lantern Festivals 2010
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The 11th Auckland Lantern Festival took place over the weekend and was a huge success. Thanks to all those who came along in record numbers to participate in the celebrations. Some 240,000 Aucklanders were wowed by a leading Shanghai music ensemble, Mongolian throat singers, rolling lantern folk dancers from South China as well as Lantern making masters and other artists.
Take in the atmosphere of the weekend through our slideshow of the festival. We've also put together separate slideshows of the performers and lanterns. Check out TV3's photo gallery and blogger Amy Williams' tips for the Festival.
The festival then moved south to Christchurch’s Victoria Square on 6 and 7 March. Again, the weekend was a huge success, with over 50,000 in attendance. View photos on our Christchurch slideshow, or via our Facebook page.
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The Lantern Festival is traditionally held on the 15th day of Chinese Lunar New Year. Each year Asia:NZ commissions new lanterns from our lantern-maker in Zigong in the western Chinese province of Sichuan. These are shipped from Shanghai by sponsor COSCO (New Zealand) Ltd. We also bring in performers from different areas of China with the assistance of sponsor Cathay Pacific. Our core sponsor for the Festivals is HSBC.
2010 - Year of the Tiger
In pride of place at both Festivals in 2010 was our tiger lantern, marking the new Year of the Tiger in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
The Tiger is a sign of courage, revered in the old days as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household: fire, thieves and ghosts. Read more about the what the Tiger stands for in our Education section People born in the Year of the Tiger are said to natural leaders, intelligent, alert and far sighted. Other tiger years are: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998. Find out your Chinese Zodiac animal.
Latest News
A Roaring Start to the Year
Young Leader Elizabeth Chan reports back from the Auckland Lantern Festival
NEW: View Slideshows of the Auckland Lantern festival
The sights of the Festival, held in Albert Park, from 26 to 28 February
Record crowd expected for Auckland Lantern Festival
Official launch to be attended by the Prime Minister John Key and Auckland Mayor John Banks.
Mongolian throat-singing crowd pleasers
The internationally acclaimed Hanggai folk band from China’s Inner Mongolia blends Mongolian folk music with more contemporary influences.
Lantern artist celebrates birds
A master of this ancient craft, Taiwanese award-winning lantern artist Wang Chen-Wen will share his 20 years’ experience at the Lantern Festival.
“Moon” to light up Lantern Festival
One of the highlights of this year’s Lantern Festivals in Auckland and Christchurch will be performances by top Shanghai musical ensemble.
Rolling lanterns defeat pirates
This year’s Lantern Festivals will feature an 800-year-old Rolling Lantern folk dance from south China that served to frighten off pirates in the old days.
Artist celebrates Chinese identity in New Zealand
Multi-media artist Mu Yuming will take part in the Chinese Lantern Festival in Christchurch with two projects celebrating Chinese identity in New Zealand.
Papercutting from the heart
Liu and her daughter are spending two weeks from February 8-18 as artists in residence at the Christchurch Arts Centre, taking workshops in paper cutting.
NEW: Dragon Skies at Auckland's Stardome Observatory
China’s history of recording events in the heavens can be traced back further than any other present day nation – and Stardome is paying tribute to their observations with a special show.
And keep up-to-date with latest news on the Auckland and Christchurch festivals: Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Background
What is the Chinese Lantern Festival all about? Click here to find out.
2009 - the Year of the Ox
2008 - the Year of the Rat
