CHESTER’S streets were lit by a procession of colourful lanterns as the city celebrated the Chinese Moon Festival for the first time.
Families across Cheshire had been working with Cheshire artist Russell Kirk to make paper lanterns to bring along to the festival parade, also named Zhong Qiu Jie or the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Moon Festival is similar to a harvest festival, celebrating a successful annual crop, and centres around the giving and receiving of mooncakes – a cake filled with a range of sweet meats.
The event was organised by the Wah Lei Chinese Association included music, cultural storytelling at the Wesley Church Centre in St John Street. Families then came together in the spectacular lantern parade from Eastgate Street to the Town Hall Square – accompanied by a lion dance, fire-eater, martial arts performance and musicians with drums and bells.
Mia Tan, Chair of the Wah Lei Chinese Association, said: “It was a wonderful evening. The atmosphere was fantastic and we were delighted at the large number of people who turned up to join the parade.
“We are very grateful for the hard work from Russell, and our volunteers, to the Big Lottery Fund, Cheshire Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the community for their continued support.”
Shantele Janes, Director of Cheshire Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre said, “We have a rich diverse community in Cheshire and events such as the Chinese Moon Festival will help promote better cultural understanding.”
The Council’s Equality and Diversity Champion, Councillor Razia Daniels added: “I’m so pleased that such a large number of people came along to take part in both the workshops and the parade itself. It was a colourful and exciting event that gave everyone a little taste of Chinese culture.”
Wah Lei held several lantern making workshops in the Chester and Ellesmere Port including, Belgrave Primary School, The Mulberry Day Centre, The Great Sutton Youth Group and the National Waterways Museum.
For more information or to become a member of Wah Lei Chinese Association visit wahlei.org.
