Celebrate Chinese New Year in London’s Magical Lantern Festival

To mark Chinese New Year, it traditional to light large, ornate lanterns that become works of art. The custom stems from the philosophy of letting go of the self of the past year and entering a new self for a new year. Lantern festivals had become large-scale celebrations by the time of the Qing dynasty around 1616 and continue to this day.

This year London will mark the Chinese New Year with a number of events, including the Magical Lantern Festival. In 2016, the festival was a wild success in its first edition, and it returns this year to celebrate the beginning of the year of the rooster.

Celebrations continue until Feb. 26, with Chiswick House Gardens turned into a spectacular collection of installations, stalls, a synthetic ice rink and virtual reality experiences. This year the theme is Explore the Silk Road, with lanterns highlighting the history of the historic trade route from China to Europe.

Adult tickets to the festival cost $21, while sessions on the ice rink will set you back an extra $10. If you want to try out the virtual reality experience, there is an extra $6 charge, and all of the tickets can be bought online from Eventbrite.

More information on the festival itself is available on the Magical Lantern Festival website. It looks to be a great event for anyone interested in Chinese culture or those of an artistic persuasion.

There are also Magical Lantern Festivals in Leeds and Birmingham if you are not in London.