POWERSCOURT HOUSE SHINES RED IN HONOUR OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR AND TOURISM
The Lantern Festival on Friday 2nd March is the conclusion of the Chinese New Year Celebrations.
This is also the EU China Tourism Year when the “Lightbridge” project will see major buildings across the European Union – including Powerscourt House – floodlight in red.
2018 is The Year of the Dog in the Chinese Zodiac, it is also designated as the EU China Tourism Year.
The Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Edward Timmins, explained that “In honour of Wicklow’s Friendship agreement with Hainan Province China, Wicklow County Council and Powerscourt Estate are participating in the EU Lightbridge Project. This event will see beautiful Powerscourt House and Gardens, located within the 1,000-acre Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, shine red to celebrate the EU China Tourism Year, in conjunction with a number of other European sites.”
Set in County Wicklow and overlooking the Sugarloaf Mountain, Powerscourt enjoys a breath-taking panorama, with 47 acres of gardens and Ireland’s highest waterfall to explore as well as golf, retail, food and a 5-star hotel.
“Powerscourt is one of the must-see destinations in Ireland and we light up the house with pride to celebrate the bond we have developed with the Chinese over recent years” according to Sarah Slazenger, Managing Director of Powerscourt Estate, “We are delighted to work with Wicklow County Council on the EU China Lightbridge Project to encourage cross-cultural contributions and foster this special friendship between Ireland and China.”
Powerscourt is one of several tourist attractions in County Wicklow that are popular with Chinese visitors and looking forward to an increase in numbers when direct flights from China commence later this year.
The Lantern Festival or the Spring Lantern Festival is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar. Usually falling in February or early March on the Gregorian calendar, it marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. Traditionally people will eat Yuan Xiao for this last day of the Chinese New Year’s celebration, then start to travel and work from the nexy day.
