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London Gems: 2017 Magical Lantern Festival
January is such a dreary time, especially in grey and cold London. However, if you want a bit of sparkle in your post-holidays life – head to Chiswick House and Garden for the Magical Lantern Festival. It was my second year in a row and I absolutely loved it. Check out photos and video below to see why. Magical Lantern Festival has been running in London for two years now and marks annual celebrations of Chinese New Year. This year’s theme was the Silk Road, the ancient trade route from China to Europe. Having grown up in Central Asia, I was particularly excited and curious to see how the Silk…
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8 Soviet New Year Celebration Traditions I Love
As I have already described here, growing up in the Soviet Union was far from the ordinary. With religion being forbidden and no Christmas celebrations allowed until the 1990s, New Year has become the biggest and most exciting holiday of the year with large-scale celebrations that last for days. Even though the times of the Soviet Union are long gone, many countries that once made USSR still hold on to some of its New Year celebration traditions which I am sharing in this post. 1.New Year Tree The New Year (not Christmas!) tree is the center of New Year’s celebrations at every home. Lovingly decorated with glass baubles, tinsels and…
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London Gems: 2016 Magical Lantern Festival
Chinese New Year celebrations may be over, but there is a secret place in London where you can relive them all over again until 6 March. Tucked away in Chiswick House & Gardens, the Magical Lantern Festival is an extravaganza of lights, culture, music and art. It takes you on a magical journey through gardens’ hidden paths exploring various themes and revealing 50 giant artistic lantern installations. Without going to China, festival visitors can explore 2000-year tradition of celebrating the arrival of the lunar new year. Something I didn’t know before coming here is that in China lantern making has turned into a true craftsmanship. Reflecting rich Chinese cultural heritage lanterns became more…
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TSV Tips: Making Keepsake for Chinese New Year!
Today is a Chinese New Year! This year is a year of Snake so I decided to make few keepsakes as good luck charms for 2013. I made snake Father Frost (Russian Santa Clause), Snegurochka (Father Frost’s granddaughter and helper) and snake ballerina (since I wanted to become one as a child). But you can make any character you wish as they are easy and fun to make. You just need to use your imagination and creativity! You will need following supplies: Thick felt (preferably white or bone colour) Thin felt (different colours) Pencil Round cup Threads (different colours) Needle Scissors Glue-on wiggle eyes Cotton ball Other accessories, such as feathers,…
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TSV Tips: Snake Jewellery for 2013
It’s a year of snake and people like me, born in this year, have to have something with snake design in their wardrobe! Source: Barbara Palvin Askew London Snake Bracelet Likewise, many retail companies jumped on this opportunity making snake pendants, earrings, bracelets and rings. I am, however, going to show you how easy it is to make your own snake design jewellery that can suit your own style. To match snake earrings my mother gave me for New Year, I made necklace and bracelet. For necklace you will need: 20 snake charms Needle and gold tone threads like these Pair of golden clasps similar to these 10 gold tone round…
