A LANTERN festival to celebrate the Lunar New Year across Asia has been held in the North-East.
The event at Durham University’s Oriental Museum was held this evening (Monday, Feb 22).
The Lunar New Year is celebrated across the continent and culminates in a Lantern Festival when streets are bedecked with lanterns.
This year is the Year of the Monkey so visitors were able to enjoy monkey themed crafts and trails, and participate in Chinese calligraphy and paper cutting activities.
There was New Year food, traditional dragon dancing, storytelling and a special performance by Durham University’s own Korean percussion group.
The museum had been decorated for the occasion and the first 100 children received a free lantern.
Charlotte Spink, the museum’s access and community engagement officer, said:
“This year’s Lantern Festival was wonderful. The event develops year on year, so there is always something new to try. This year we have been able to work with the Chinese School in Durham to put together a great programme.”
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