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This year’s lunar new year celebrations have been on a rise and Disneyland won’t give up an opportunity to monopolize on a cultural celebration. In a visual perspective its quite pleasing to the eye. Frankly, it’s nice to see Chinese decor in such a well manicured location.  Don’t lie, most of the time Chinese American communities can be a bit gritty and not in the most cleanest state so sometimes the sophisticated designs on the decor can be covered up by the attention of the dirt around it. Not dissing on the Chinese but just generally speaking sometimes.  Having a beautiful background to display the colorful decoration is a nice overlay to the minimalistic area of the “its a small world mall.” The creams and hints of gold with the trimmed up greenery is nice to contrast with the vivid bright red satin lanterns, glittery dragons, and bountiful cherry blossom trees. Really having nothing competing with the attention its a nice showcase of these cultural treasures. Even better is the images that occasionally pop up from Disneyland Hong Kong of the Lunar New Year decoration especially in Main Street. Having the very Western Victorian architecture of Main Street with it’s ornate ,pastel detailing of the building overlayed with garlands of cherry blossoms is a very Western but still welcome approach to displaying the greenery. The idea of using to highlight rooflines,doorways,windows is a nice change or addition to the traditional tree display.  The trees lining the road are decked out with larger then life wooden lucky envelopes creates a new Western idea of ornaments. And with the “fu” symbols basically plastered in every window,door,column…I very much enjoy this almost Victorian approach to this very Chinese traditional look. Also to add the very drapper orange trees trimmed to still fit the Victorian landscaping with keeping the Chinese vibe.  And I can’t help but love the firecrackers flanking every window…

The reason why I absolutely adore this look perspective is that it is a very view on a old look. Having people that have never been exposed to the traditional look of the holiday it creates a much need renewal of how to display this very specific look. Unlike Christmas ,Lunar New Year have very specific colors that can’t be messed with. It only constant of red,gold,pink,yellow, and hint of black. The very limited color scheme creates an difficult problem of how to decorate with these colors without it being overbearing. Too much red can be a bit jarring but just adding very vivid hints and focal points is just a perfect balance to keep it sophisticated, festive,…. It combines both of my loves, the love of the Victorian and the Chinese. It kind of echos the looks of Hong Kong and Southern China of the 1940s…Having the finest in Chinese goods and European goods in the same room working together…not visually fighting for attention. The subdue details of both parties work together to create an harmonious and glided look of that time period.

Culturally, having the background of the Victorian era, the time of Industrial Revolution, Europeans beginning to “trade” with China, immigrants being abused… The idea of that time period completely contradicts the whole idea the the Asian culture on the rise in the past few years. The idea of un reserved celebrations, no true social boundaries of who can or can’t we talk to. Having the idea world working side by side is a nice change. Chinese just adding a new foreign touch to the very domestic and familiar atmosphere of Disneyland. Having it seep into Disneyland allows everyone to embrace it with comfort and allows everyone to easily relate to the whole foreign celebration.