LunarFest Around The World
2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival
Like Taiwan, Indigenous people are the first inhabitants of the land. Today, Canada’s cultural fabric is as diverse as any nation in the world. How does Canada celebrate one of the most important Asian traditions, the Lunar New Year? The answer is simple – like no other! How has Taiwan influenced Canada’s Lunar New Year celebration? The answer is the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Cultural Olympiad!
Did you know that the largest Lunar New Year celebration in Canada, LunarFest, was established in a partnership with Taiwan? Thousands of school children in Taiwan and Canada built a Lantern Forest and Canadian and Taiwanese artists showcased their lantern masterpieces in Downtown Vancouver for 35 days during the Games. It was one of the most photographed sites during the games and was named as one of the top ten events of the Cultural Olympiad. To commemorate the 10th anniversary in 2019, three artists from Coast Salish nations and Taiwan’s indigenous artist Miru Hayong collaborated on the Coastal Lunar Lanterns at Jack Poole Plaza, across from the Olympic Cauldron.
Vancouver is proud to be the first North American city to ever take part in the world’s largest lantern festival with the presentation of the Coastal Lunar Lanterns. Canada celebrates Lunar New Year like no other, but the Taiwan Lantern Festival has always been the top inspiration of this legacy event in LunarFest.
*Note: Be sure to enter the photo contest below for your chance to win special prizes from Canada.
2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival
Date: Feb. 8 to Feb. 23, 2020
Venue: Houli Forest Park Area, Taichung – International Friendship Section
Facebook: facebook.com/1867Canada/
Salish Giant
Based on a local Squamish legend, the waters were once home to a large mythological creature that helped create the geography of the inlet. In his sketch, an upside down massive octopus is making up the space for the ocean. The line work hatch pattern of the mountains creates a distinctive graphic break between water and sky.
Cory Douglas (Squamish/Vancouver)
Born in Vancouver and a Squamish Nation member with Haida and Tsimshian ancestry. Cory began his business ‘Modern Formline’ as a graphic artist and is now proficiently designing drums, tattoos, original paintings, and hand engraved jewellery.
Spirit of Life
Light has the power to evoke spiritual forces because of the vitality it represents to almost every culture. In Coast Salish culture, the winter months are spent telling stories and celebrating life by singing and dancing around a large fire in the longhouse. It is a beautiful scene of flickering & twirling light. Cannell has tried to embody the Spirit of Life and celebration in the design for this beautiful cross-cultural lantern display. This modern Coast Salish artwork displays colours that are traditionally seen at contemporary lantern festivals, and portraits a child with a lantern in hand, who is joyfully dancing in the moonlight.
Thomas Cannell (Musqueam/Vancouver)
Born on Musqueam traditional territory in 1980, Thomas has worked alongside his mother, Coast Salish artist Susan Point as a carver and designer. In 2014, Thomas was awarded a British Columbia Achievement Award for First Nations Art and is currently a board member on the British Columbia Arts Council.
Praying to the Crows
Symbolizing the relationship between humans and the crows of Vancouver, the three moons designed represent both lunar icons and the people. The crows are known to bring joy and messages to the people they fly over. When crows are flying in flocks over the city, it brings people happiness to see how they have survived the harsh developments in the city and continue to bring happiness to all of Vancouver. “Spò:l” means crow in Tsleil-waututh.
Zachary “SKOKAYLEM” George (Tsleil-Waututh/Vancouver)
Born and raised in North Vancouver and now living in Chehalis, BC. His work is inspired by his late grandparents, Chief Dan and Amy George, and Robert and Betty Edge. Zac studied carving with Don Joe of Chehalis and is proud to use the Coast Salish artistic style. He lives the rich cultural lifestyle of the Salish People: he is a hunter, fisherman, and follows the traditional spirituality practiced by his people for centuries.
Photo Contest
From February 8 to February 23, 2020, visitors are invited to take part in a picture contest where winners will be selected for prizes brought from Canada! Post on either Instagram or Facebook and tag @1867canada with #CanadianLanterns for your chance to win!
- Limited to three post/entries per account (Instagram & Facebook)
- Instagram stories and Facebook stories do not count as an entry
- Ensure account to be set to public until the winner announcement on March 27 to be eligible for the contest
- Entry ends on February 23, 2020, 11:59pm CST
- The winner announcement is on March 27
- Photo entry qualification is at the sole discretion of the organizer.
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