Magic of Lanterns at Montreal Botanical Garden
Montreal’s Fall Fête of Color Promises an Illuminating Experience
Oct 4, 2008
The Montreal Botanical Garden’s most popular annual event is the Magic of Lanterns. This year’s 16th edition celebrates celebrations with the theme “A Thousand and One Stars.” Appearing nightly on the Chinese Garden’s Dream Lake “stage” are illuminated lanterns in the shape of drummers, acrobats and jugglers. There are 700 hand-crafted imported silk lanterns in all.
“We wanted to be part of the festivities of the Olympic Games,” said Magic of Lanterns designer My Quynh Duong. “It’s our modest way of recognizing the Beijing Olympics while highlighting traditional Chinese celebrations.”
Duong, who boasts a background in architecture from the University of Montreal, has designed the event since 2001. She says this type of entertainment dates back 3,000 years.
“The circus tradition and these festivities were a very important part of the imperial court.”
Duong says that you could call Emperor Wu Di of the Han dynasty party planner number one.
“He organized sumptuous banquets with a lot of ornamentation, decoration and costumes,” she said. “He held very lavish parties.”
Dream Lake Takes Center Stage
The Dream Lake site pays homage to a number of Chinese performing arts both old and new. On display is an imperial court chorus called “Chimes of 64 Bells,” and a quartet of four musicians who play traditional stringed instruments including a guitar; the ruan, a banjo-like instrument; the guzheng, a Chinese zither; and a Chinese harp
“We call the group the Tang Dynasty Ladies,” Duong said.
Each Magic of Lanterns event begins almost a full year before with the selection of a theme. By January, designs are sent to a company in Shanghai that makes traditional Chinese lanterns. After design approval, production begins in spring. The lanterns are made of a metal frame covered in silk. Other manufacturing methods employ bamboo frames, but Duong says the metal frames are easier to bend enabling a wider variety of curved lanterns. It takes almost two months to complete the order of 700 lanterns.
How the Stage is Set
The lanterns are shipped from Shanghai to Vancouver in four giant containers the end of June. The containers are transferred to rail for the Vancouver to Montreal leg. Total time: about six weeks. With luck, the entire shipment arrives on time the first week of August.
Duong then supervises a team of 15 welders, carpenters and electricians who unpack, install and plug in the lights.
The Chinese Garden’s Dream Lake hosts the largest components of the event. This year’s centerpiece lanterns include a large colorful opera mask, as well as an animated revolving golden astrolabe, a sphere once used by ancient astronomers.
“It’s designed after a real bronze one that’s displayed in Beijing,” Duong said.
In addition two gentle waterfalls cleverly convey the idea of a stage curtain. Lanterns are still used in China to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the Moon Festival. The tradition dates to 206 B.C.
“It’s a great way to learn something about the Chinese culture,” Duong said.
Information
- The Magic of Lanterns continues until Oct. 31.
- The Montreal Botanical Garden is at 4101 Sherbrooke St. E. (Metro station Pie-IX).
- Seasonal hours to Oct. 31 are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Admission costs $16 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, $8 for youths 5 to 17, and $2.50 for children 4 and under.
- Admission includes access to the exhibition greenhouses, outdoor gardens and Insectarium.
- Call (514) 872-1400.
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