Expats join elderly in celebrating Lantern Festival
Shot by Dong Jun. Edited by Yang Meiping. Reported by Yang Meiping. Subtitles by Yang Meiping.
International residents in Huacao Town, located in Shanghai's suburban Minhang District, were invited to celebrate the Lantern Festival with the elderly at the Evergreen Homeland community on Saturday.
Huacao is one of the largest international communities in Shanghai, with more than 9,600 expats from around 80 countries. It also hosts seven international schools and eight international medical institutions.
Initiated by the Shanghai NEY Charity Foundation, the event created a festive atmosphere at the compound featuring community-based care for the elderly population. Both the elderly and the expats were invited to make tangyuan (glutinous rice balls with soup) and lanterns, and enjoy performances including Huju opera, lion and dragon dances.
Gerwin Schalk, visiting professor at Fudan University and Huashan Hospital, and Jean-Paul Paddack, senior adviser to the director general of World Wildlife Fund International, were invited to paint the eyes of the dragon and lions during the performance. This is an important session in the celebration ritual.
It was the first time for both to celebrate the Chinese festival in Shanghai.
Schalk has been living in the Evergreen Homeland community for two years and has joined celebrations of some other traditional Chinese festivals, but it was the first time he has spent the Lantern Festival with locals.
"I appreciate it very much. China has such a rich culture and so many celebrations, very different from the West, but very colorful and very lively," he said.
Paddack arrived in Shanghai on Friday for an annual meeting of WWF International next week and was glad to have the opportunity to join locals on the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of Chinese New Year celebration.
"It's a very nice celebration," he said.
"For me, it's a symbol of friendship and respect to celebrate with the elderly people and young people coming together. It's a wonderful way of celebrating the New Year. I was very honored to have been invited to paint the eyes of the dragon and the lions."
An old woman makes lantern with help from a young man.
Senior residents at the Evergreen Homeland community makes tangyuan (glutinous rice balls with soup).
Gerwin Schalk, visiting professor at Fudan University and Huashan Hospital, learns making tangyuan.
The elderly show off their lanterns.
Jean-Paul Paddack, senior adviser to the director general of World Wildlife Fund International, with a sign for a lucky Year of the Dragon
Dressed for the event.
Senior dancers perform for the celebration.
Senior dancers pose for photos.
The elderly enjoy the Lantern Festival.
Gerwin Schalk paints the eyes of a lion.
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