By Shira Stoll on Nov. 28, 2018
NYC Winter Lantern Festival makes Snug Harbor debut, attracting 2,400 attendees
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYC Winter Lantern Festival made its debut in Livingston on Wednesday evening, bringing 2,400 attendees to Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden to check out more than 40 installments.
"This year, tens of thousands of New Yorkers and tourists aren't looking at the other boroughs," said Aileen Fuchs, Snug Harbor president and CEO. "They're looking at Staten Island and Snug Harbor to make their holiday memories."
Attendees from across the New York area gawked at the installments, scattered across the South Meadow. Despite dropping temperatures, dozens of wide-eyed attendees documented their walk through the elaborate display. Traditional lion dances and Kung Fu demonstrations took place on the festival stage, located in a corner of the festival area. New York Events & Entertainment (NEWYORKEE), Haitian Culture and Empire Outlets sponsored the event, which will run until Jan. 6, 2019.
Although the festival itself had multiple themes, organizers say the design had a significant amount of Asian influence.
Although the term "lantern" is used in the title of the event, very few traditional lanterns were involved. A majority of the 30-foot installments are lit by LED lights, but made with silk, topped with a protective coat -- the materials that also make up lanterns.
"The displaying of lanterns is a traditional way of celebrating important holidays in China," said General Li, the cultural counselor of the Chinese Consulate. "In order to pray for harvest, families light up lanterns in joy and appreciate their wishes. This often contains a message of good fortune."
Though a large portion of the crowd appreciated the lanterns for their spiritual significance -- many also appreciated a fun photo-op. In the words of Deputy Borough President Ed Burke: "Snug Harbor is lit."
To attendee Bibi Jordan, who stopped by the festival while visiting family, the event was the display of light she needed in a dark time. After her home in Malibu was burned down by the California fires, Jordan was forced to come back to her home on Long Island.
"This is the most wonderful place to be right now," Jordan said. "I feel like a child again. It makes me forget everything for a bit."
Post time: Nov-29-2018
