Every year in the Montreal Botanical Gardens Chinese Garden a celebration of light is presented. This years celebration is from September 11 to November 1. The lanterns created for the 2009 edition are inspired by classic images from Chinese astronomy and instruments from the Beijing Ancient Observatory. The Lantern Festival, as celebrated in China, is a tradition that dates back to the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), the second and the longest dynasty in Imperial China. This evening celebration is held during the New Year cycle of festivities, as adults and children carrying lanterns stroll through the streets at dusk. Traditional motifs of plants, animals and mythical scenes, once fashioned from paper and silk, are now often made out of nylon and other modern materials. The sight of all these people out strolling with their own sources of light is splendidly festive. The lanterns at the Botanical Garden are handcrafted by skilful artists here and in China. They are designed in Montréal and produced in Shanghai, with traditional methods. Then they are brought by ship to Montréal and painstakingly arranged at the Botanical Garden to create an absolutely magical spectacle. Joan and I were fortunate to be in Montreal during the celebration. Although we were not able to be attend the evening show, we were there in the late afternoon and got an idea of the effect. Even at that time of day, the lanterns and displays were really beautiful.
