FESTIVALS

IN ASIA
Lesson 1
CHINESE NEW YEAR
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it
has been called since the twentieth century,
remains the most important social and
economic holiday in China. Its history dates
back centuries ago and gains its significance
because of several beliefs and traditions.
 Originally, this festivity is tied to the lunar-solar Chinese
calendar, the holiday was a time to honor ancestors, household
spirits, as well as holy or sacred beings. This is also the time to
bring the family together for feasting. With the popular adoption
in China of the Western calendar in 1912, the Chinese also joined
in celebrating January 1 as New Year's Day. China, however,
continues to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year,
although in a shorter version with a new name—the Spring
Festival.
 CHINESE NEW YEAR SYMBOLS
AND TRADITIONS
The presence of art elements especially colors and forms
evidently hold a big impact to catch the attention or
interest of the people during Chinese festivities as well as
in representing their cultural symbols.
1. The Welcoming of the Gods of
Wealth and Prosperity
● On the fifth day of New Year, the Chinese believe that
the gods of prosperity will come down from the
heavens. That is why most businessmen often
participate in setting off firecrackers as they believe it
brings good fortune and wealth for their businesses.
 2. The Festival of Lanterns
● The fifteenth day of the New Year
is known as the Festival of Lanterns
and marks the end of the New Year
celebrations Different kinds of
lanterns are lit throughout the
streets and often poems and riddles
are written for entertainment.
3. The Red Envelopes
● Called as the hong bao in Mandarin and ang pao
in Hokkien, the red envelopes are filled with
money. These are commonly given to children or
unmarried adults with no jobs yet. If you are
single and working and earning money, you still
have to give the younger ones the hong bao
money.
3. The Red Envelopes
● In the Chinese culture, color red signifies good luck,
abundance, and happiness.
 4. The Dragon
● It is always present in many Chinese cultural
celebrations as the Chinese people often think of
themselves as descendants of the mythical
creature.
● On the fifth day of the New Year, when many
people have to start going back to their work, they
also have the Dancing Dragons perform in front of
the office building.
4. The Dragon
● On the fifteenth day of the New Year, they also have a
lot of dancing performances.
● Dragon represents prosperity, good fortune, and luck.
5. The Clothing
● The girls are usually dressed in red
or bright-colored cheongsam.
● It was believed that red is a color of
good luck and could scare away evil
spirits and bad fortune
6. The Family Picture
● The taking of family portrait is
an important ceremony after
the relatives are gathered. The
photo is usually taken at the
hall or in front of the house.
The most senior head of the
family sits at the center.
 7. The Symbolical Color and Shape
● The red diamond shapes are
symbols for arrival of luck,
prosperity, blessings, and
happiness. These are
displayed on the entrances of
Chinese homes. This is
commonly seen hanging
upside down.
 8. The Nian Hua
● It is a form of Chinese colored
woodblock printing for decoration
during Chinese New Year. Its
original form was a picture of a
door god. Customarily, as each
Chinese New Year arrives, every
family replaces its picture to “say
good-bye to the past and welcome
the future."
8. The Nian Hua
● In some places, New Year pictures are quite different. Like
in the city of Mianzhu, there are particular rules that they
need to follow such as symmetry, completeness
equilibrium, clarity, and a moral meaning.
9. The Food
● The Chinese believe that the most important dinner of
the year is the Chinese New Year’s Eve meal
Families are gathered together at a designated relative’s
house for dinner, However, nowadays, many families are
already celebrating it in hotels or restaurants.
9. The Food
● The Chinese always have sticky glutinous rice as a
symbol of family only.
THE LANTERN FESTIVAL
In Thailand, the festival of lights is celebrated around the
country with Loi Krathong (a lotus-shaped receptacle) that
are released on water to bring luck and fulfill wishes.
KRATHONG
Traditionally Krathong is made from a slice of the trunk of a
banana tree or spider lily plant Modern Krathongs are often
made of bread or styrofoam Bread Krathong will disintegrate
after few days and can be eaten by the fish in the river. Banana
silk krathong are also biodegradable.
The khom loi are made from thin fabric, such as rice paper,
stretched over a bamboo or wired frames to which a candle or fuel
cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is
trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the khom foi
to float up into the sky. The beautiful connection of space and
colors are highlighted during this festivity.
 JAPANESE TODO KAIDO DRUM FESTIVAL
Taiko has been part of the Japanese culture for over two
thousand years. According to some archeological and
anthropological researches, ancient people in the Jomon era
already used drums as a communication tool or an
instrument for religious rituals. However, the percussion they
used is presumed to be quite different from the one used
today. Nowadays, the term "taiko" is oftenly used to mean
the relatively modern art of drum performances
(kumi-daiko).
 PROCESS OF MAKING TAIKO DRUMS
Traditionally, byo-uchi-daiko was crafted from
trunks of the Japanese zelkova tree that were
dried out over the years. A master carpenter
then carved out the rough shape of the drum
body with chisel to soften the texture of the
drum. After the drying process, the inside part
of the drum is worked with deep-grooved
chisel and sanded. Lastly, drum handles are
placed onto the drum. These are used to carry
smaller drums and they can also serve as
ornaments for larger drums.
 TAIKO DRUM PERFORMER’S CLOTHING
There is a variety of traditional clothing for the taiko drum
players These include the following:
1. Happi coat
This is a traditional Japanese
straight-sleeved coat usually made
from indigo or brown cotton and
imprinted with a distinctive mon
(crest).
2. Muneate
This is an apron-like attire, also called as haragake.
3. Matahaki
This is worn as pants.
4. Tabi
This is a sock-looking footwear.
5. Kyahan
This is an ankle belt to secure the tabi.
6. Tekkau
This is a wristband.
7. Hachimaki
This is a helmet scarf worn as symbol of perseverance,
effort, and courage; headbands.
8. Fundoshi
this is a traditional Japanese cotton
undergarment for adult males.
9. Obi
this is a belt worn around the
happi coat.
 ART RESEMBLANCE ON CHINESE
AND KOREAN DRUMS
Taiko drums resemble the ones of China and Korea. The ancient taiko is
thought to be introduced to Japan from the Asian continent as far as
India based on their Buddhist beliefs. The taikos have always been used in
religious performances and local festivals as well It is very common to
find taikos at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

Chinese drum Korean drum

THE CONTEMPORARY SINGAPORE
ARTS FESTIVAL
The Singapore Annual Arts Festival is organized by the
country’s National Arts Council. This is one of their most
important events in the regional arts scene. The festival is
usually held in midyear for a stretch of one month that
incorporates theater arts, dances, and visual arts. This is a
fusion of varied arts and culture since most of the events
are put up by international artists.
 Nowadays, this festival is investing in
works that bridge disciplines. Cultures,
languages, and geographical
boundaries. This also explores
contemporary issues related to history,
memory, migration, and urban living
This is also an avenue for discovering
new artists, and encouraging regional
and international artistic exchanges
and collaborations. La Fura dels Bau performing Dreams in Flight
Singapore Arts Festival 2007 opening