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The free event featured a traditional puppet show with comedy as well as stories of love. Children and their families were then invited to take part in stations where they could learn Chinese, traditional paper cutting, printmaking, and about doll painting.
More commonly known as the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, the Spring Festival is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. “It’s akin to our Christmas,” Betty McGinnis, founder of World Artists Experiences, said. “It’s a time to celebrate peace and joy with family and friends.”
Li Hong, minister counsellor for cultural affairs at the Chinese Embassy in D.C., explained that she has seen an increase of Spring Festival celebrations around the world on a large scale in cities like Paris, London and Sydney, as well as a small scale like the show at the Avalon.
She admits that this maybe because of an expanding population, but also that the spring festival speaks to many cultures.
"Spring festival is easily accessible. It is a time for family, harmony, peace, and prayer for happiness. Those are ideals that are shared by many cultures and religions,” Hong said.
The Tianjin Puppet Troupe and Craft Artists were founded in 1976 and travel around China and the world sharing their traditions. In the United States, they have only performed at the American Art Museum, The Kennedy Center, U.S. Department of State and now the Avalon.
World Artists Experiences, as well as the Avalon Foundation and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, is the organisation responsible for bring the Tianjin Puppet Troupe and Craft Artists to Easton. WAE, in its tenth season, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build bridges for international understanding through cultural and citizen diplomacy in communities, colleges, and schools in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The Avalon will be hosting another WAE show Thursday, 20 February, featuring a Serbian accordion player who plays both folk and classical music.
