Delight: this dazzling installation in a Hong Kong park celebrates a Chinese lunar festival.For centuries, Chinese culture has been marked by veneration of the moon. Even today, despite adopting the Gregorian calendar Gregorian calendar Solar dating system now in general use. It was proclaimed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a reform of the Julian calendar. By the Julian reckoning, the solar year comprised 365¹⁄₄ days. , the Chinese still turn to their traditional lunar calendar Noun 1. lunar calendar - a calendar based on lunar cycles calendar - a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year to mark New Year (second full moon after the winter solstice winter solstice n. In the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice that occurs on or about December 22. winter solstice Noun ), along with a panoply pan·o·ply n. pl. pan·o·plies 1. A splendid or striking array: a panoply of colorful flags. See Synonyms at display. 2. of assorted holidays and festivals. The Mid-Autumn Festival takes place around the autumn equinox equinox (ē`kwĭnŏks), either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. The vernal equinox, also known as "the first point of Aries," is the point at which the sun appears to cross the , when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. Families celebrate by feasting, children carry vividly coloured lanterns and people gather in parks and open spaces to eat moon cakes and 'moon watch'. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] During last autumn's festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. in Hong Kong, local architect Eric Chan designed a temporary installation of water and light intended to express ancient Chinese traditions and Hong Kong's modern vitality. Set in Victoria Park, eight giant coloured lanterns made from translucent fabric stretched over funnel-shaped frames formed a dazzling, kaleidoscopic topography. Chan's poetic inspiration for the project was the moment a drop of rain falls on a pond, generating concentric ripples of energy, so the lanterns moved up and down on hydraulic platforms and floodlights were employed to create rippling effects. This choreography of light and movement was amplified by music, further stimulating the senses. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The hues of the kinetic lanterns glowed with a jewel-like intensity and sparkling 'gravel' composed of LED fittings scintillated underfoot. Victoria Park is a favourite haunt of Hong Kong's autumn moon watchers, but this time the man-made distractions more than matched the celestial grandeur of the heavens. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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