The Lantern Festival and 2025, the Year of the Snake
"The Lantern Festival (Shangyuan Jie)," circa 1592 – 1620, Late Ming Dynasty, Wanli Reign, Ink and color on silk, Six panels, Overall: 102 1/4 x 140 1/4 in. (259.7 x 356.2 cm), Purchase, acquired through the generosity of the John and Heidi Niblack Fund
Six hanging scrolls depicting a Lantern Festival celebration in the late 1500s to early 1600s are on view briefly due to their fragility and rarity. In 2025, the Year of the Snake begins on January 29 and the festivities conclude with the Lantern Festival on February 12. Animals associated with the 12-year lunar calendar cycle that appear in the Lantern Festival paintings include the tiger, rabbit, dragon, horse, monkey, rooster, and pig, while the snake, rat, ox, ram, and dog are absent. Snakes are represented in two Japanese works on view: a woodblock print and an ivory netsuke toggle.
Featured Program
Lunar New Year Community Day
Join the Norton to celebrate Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake! Kick off the day with a traditional Puppet Show with Chinese Theater Works, story time with Monica Ladd, and dragon and lion dances with Lee Koon Hung Kung Fu. Learn more about our Chinese Collection with Spotlight Tours with our docents and get creative with multiple art activities.
The Lantern Festival is organized by the Norton Museum of Art. This exhibition was made possible by the generosity of John and Heidi Niblack.