With just a weekend and a bit left of Vivid Sydney 2015, you’ll want to make sure you venture out to see all of the lights. Not sure where to begin? Check out the only guide you’ll need for the festival, or discover my themed trails here. Whether you’re looking to DIY, play or travel through space, you’ll get a full helping of Vivid lights with these guides to the festival.
Also, tonight is the last night to get on one of Beyond the Wharf’s Vivid cruises around Sydney Harbour. Rug up and jump aboard because you won’t get a better view of the festival classics than on the back upper deck of one of Sydney’s iconic yellow and green ferries. Tickets here.
Rabbit, Rabbit. White Rabbit. Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits.
Not following? This tradition of stating one of the above (or a variation) upon waking up on the first of the month is a superstition that’s meant to bring you good luck for the 27 to 31 days ahead. Kind of like ‘a pinch and a punch for the first of the month’, but you know, friendlier.
So I may be a tad superstitious – don’t even think of opening that umbrella inside, and watch out if you’re standing behind my left shoulder when I spill some salt – and when the good ol’ days of Nickelodeon taught me the tradition of saying “Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first of the month back in the 1990s, it stuck. And it’s now stuck with me for the past 15 plus years… (A scary thought for all 90s kids out there… that was over 15 years ago.)
But my question is, did Nickelodeon actually make up this tradition which has now stuck with me and those others out there who remember the ‘Nick Days’? After the obvious quick search on Wikipedia, it turns out that this predominantly English tradition, though not well documented, has been around since the early 1900’s at least. Upon further research, several people around the web do discuss their families’ traditions and variations of this rabbit luck. There’s even a page dedicated to the superstition, randomly placed within an old gemscale site that will bring you right back to the 90s – and the days of creating your own Geocities or Angelfire sites. Many have commented (most recently in 2003) on the different origins and variations they grew up knowing:
KevinS told of a great facilitator for a catch up on 9/2/1997
“There is a tradition in the military (at least in the USAF) involving white rabbit. It is a game, as well as a way to keep in touch with those with whom you were stationed. When a new month begins, it is a contest as to who can tell the other person ‘white rabbit’ first; must be live comm, no answering machines, letters, etc. Usually the wager would be a drink. However, like I said, it allowed you an ‘excuse’ to call people once a month and catch up.”
John-Deb discussed a bit of a mean-spirited version in Okinawa with origins in New Zealand on 25/1/1998
“Here on Okinawa, we have friends that believe that if you say White Rabbit to someone else on the first of the month, you steal all their luck. They believe it originated in New Zealand.”
Ted went into a larger history of why ‘rabbit’, and where it may have actually come from on 22/1/2000 here.
I was also interested in finding out what other possible ‘first of the month’ traditions existed around the world, but unfortunately couldn’t find too many for a new month. I happened upon those for the new moon like Rosh Chodesh from the Hebrew calendar, the ‘pinch and a punch’ tradition, and then of course, the spiritual, find-your-inner-goddess type celebrations with candles, crystals and intentions.
But why all this talk of rabbits and luck and the start of the new month? Well today, on the first day of the month, I am officially launching my new site Quinntessences, an expansion of my old site Quinntessential Style, and your new weekly guide to a quinntessential lifestyle of sorts with style, inspirations, musings and plenty of quirks.
So my rabbitry, good luck wishes and spiritual intentions all go toward this launch of Quinntessences: Your Quinntessential Week. Here’s to the luck that lies ahead as I get my bearings and head down this new and exciting rabbit hole… (see what I did there?)
The days may be getting shorter, but Sydney’s turning the lights on to keep the city shining bright during Vivid Sydney 2015.
The Vivid 2015 season has begun here in Sydney, bringing its biggest program yet with an abundance of festival firsts. Over the next 12 days, the festival of light, music and ideas will splash the city in colour, spin a lively soundtrack and spark the minds of Sydneysiders and visitors alike. All will be ablaze with colourful light installations and projections featured across the city. See the glowing Opera House Sails, morphing MCA façade, the luminescent water theatre in Darling Harbour and even the boats that dot the waters surrounding Sydney Town. While Sydney is illuminated, its residents and visitors will be enlightened. The festival’s Vivid LIVE brings a massive program of contemporary music for its seventh year in a row, while Vivid Ideas hosts a slew of seminars to discuss innovation, challenge thinking and bring new ideas to the table. And though the festival has already begun, there is still a ton on offer to see, hear and do.
Sydney’s new ‘urban village’, Central Park makes its Vivid debut this year as street art comes to life, markets light up the night and interactive entertainment keeps you coming back for more.
5:30pm aMBUSH Gallery, L3 Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale
Head up to the aMBUSH gallery space to check out Streets Ahead and immerse yourself in the world of street art and streetwear through a one-off exhibit and Vivid Ideas talks with artists, designers and brands at the forefront of street culture. The exhibit displays works by all of the specially invited international speakers including Tony Arcabascio, jeffstable, Mishka, 123KLAN and L’Amour Supreme.
6pm aMBUSH Gallery, L3 Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale
After the exhibit, find your way to the Newtown Hotel pop-up bar in the gallery’s event space for a drink and front-row view of the Streets Ahead light show, sparking up at 6pm. Watch as works by indigenous artist, Reko Rennie and multidisciplinary artist, Beastman dance across the heritage-listed CUB Brewery façade. The pop-up is also hosting an eclectic music program chock full of DJs and bands from all over the music spectrum. See the schedule here.
Grab a train from Central to Circular Quay to the literally beating heart of Vivid. Expect crowds, but also expect to be in total awe. Explore your surrounds as you step into a vibrant playground where light installations abound, set to a unique score of musical soundtracks and excited festivalgoers. Across from the station, Customs House enchants as its façade blossoms with Sydney’s flora and fauna, while next door, the New Zealand-Japan made Light Origamicreates a kaleidoscopic world of over 320 origami shapes reflecting and refracting spectrums of light throughout a mirrored dome. But don’t go too far from the wharf though because you’ve got a boat to catch at 8pm.
Grab yet another spectacular front-row view of the lights aboard one of the city’s iconic yellow and green ferries during a Vivid Sydney Harbour Tour. This festival first gives you an exclusive, beyond-breathtaking show of Vivid Sydney’s Harbour Lights precinct set to an original Vivid Music soundtrack with commentary providing the behind-the-scenes scoop on the mesmerizing light displays to be seen. Starting at the Opera House Sails designed this year by Universal Everything, and the Museum of Contemporary Art’s electric Merchandised Colour Assemblage projection, the ferry – only at half-capacity so everyone can experience the dramatic views – putt-putts along under the dazzling Harbour Bridge covered in 100,000 LEDs. Next you’re taken to Antarctica on an exploration of the Polar Lights as they bounce and reflect atop the Maritime Museum’s roof. Continuing on towards Pyrmont Bay Park, the night is set ablaze with an interactive digital fireworks display, just one part of this multisensory urban playground. Finally, as the ferry chugs its way back to Circular Quay, you’re taken past the Light Walk from The Rocks to the Walsh Bay Tree of Light for a finale bursting with even more colour and glimmering lights.
The Vivid Sydney Harbour Tours are an absolute must for a totally unique perspective of the shimmering harbour. Find out more and buy your tickets to board here.
As a breakout favourite last year, this busy daytime stomping ground for Sydney’s corporates transforms into an luminous evening precinct, appealing to all five senses. With delicious smells wafting from some of the city’s tastiest food joints, interactive installations to see and hear, plus the chance to battle in out in a game of drones, the Vivid party here carries on until midnight.
9:45pm Transcendence, Martin Place
At this point, I’m sure you’re wondering if any food is involved during this night out, and of course! I was just making sure you worked up a good appetite before approaching the foodie wonderland of Transcendence. This architectural media sculpture by UK designer Joseph Crossley features mesmerizing scenes using new media art from projection mapping to a computer-coded light show. Every night will see a different team of hand-selected artists working alongside Crossley to create an ever-changing visual feast. So as the lights dazzle and dance above, your mouth will begin to water at the treats below. Delight in a selection of Sydney’s trendiest food and drink hawkers. Here’s just a preview of the nosh and tipples on offer:
Tsuru (Asian Street Food): Hot & spicy BBQ pork belly buns
Cow & The Moon (Award-Winning Gelato & Coffee): Affogato
Rocks Brewing Company (Brewery): Local beers & Local spirits by Sydney’s Archie Rose distillery
‘til Midnight Martin Place
After indulging in the menu at Transendence, digest a bit and have a wander of the other light shows in Martin Place. Enter inside the 1920s celluloid filmmaking techniques and workings of a zoetrope at Phase Frames. Remember the importance of switching off your technology and tuning into the world around you with Robotantic’s interactive botanical garden of light and sound. Feel the beat Drum Circle by Australian duo Kate & Marty where the rhythm you drum out connects to the changing lights throughout the installation.
Now if you find yourself with more time on your hands to fulfill your Vivid needs, continue reading to discover my quinntessential hit list for the festival (barring the installations already mentioned above).
You can also check out my themed Vivid trails here.
month, I am officially launching my new site 
Grab yet another spectacular front-row view of the lights aboard one of the city’s iconic yellow and green ferries during a 
