By Mary Thomas, Diversity Magazine Asian Correspondent
Photo by Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Centre
January 16, 2020
The Lunar New Year is a vibrant and festive occasion for many people in Canada. The Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesians, Malay, Filipino and Ukrainians celebrate this as do many other cultures. Chinese New Year Celebrations may last for many days and often includes various festivities such as street parades featuring dancing, traditional Chinese costumes, firework displays, food stalls, and arts and crafts. Chinese Canadian families spent time together giving gifts, particularly red envelopes with money that are given to children. Tangerines and oranges are also displayed in homes as a sign of prosperity. Each Chinese New Year is associated with an animal name. 2020 is the year of the Rat.
The Chinese community in Fort McMurray is approximately 400 – 500 people but the Chinese New Year has been celebrated there for the last 40 years drawing 300 – 500 people every year with performances and a traditional buffet meal. It draws people from all communities sharing in the festivities. This year it is scheduled at Shell Place MacDonald Island on January 25 between 6.00 pm to 12midnight. James Wang, President, Chinese Cultural Society of Fort McMurray spoke about how excited he is to celebrate the Lunar New Year with the wider community again this year. He mentioned that the Filipino and Ukrainian communities also celebrate the New Year around the same time.
In Edmonton, there is a range of events to mark the Lunar New Year. Patrick Ng, Event Coordinator, Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Centre traces the history.
“Chinese New Year Celebrations have been happening for more than 30 years in Edmonton. This year it will be at West Edmonton Mall Ice Rink on Saturday, January 18-19, 10.00 am to 9.00 pm, and 10.00 am to 6.00 pm Sunday”.
A well-attended event spiced with a rich Chinese culture.
“Approximately 5,000 – 8,000 people over 2 days attended the event last year and over 20,000 witnessed it in different ways. There will be handicrafts, toys and food and performances throughout. Children and seniors will have free entry and adults will pay an entry fee of $2,” the coordinator continues.
The event is very multicultural. Ng added, “Traditional lion and dragon dances will be interspersed by musical instrumentals, Chinese New Year Choir, and Chinese Kung Fu performances and you will get to sample a variety of Chinese tea and food throughout the event. On Saturday night between 7:00 – 9:00 pm there will be a multicultural stage embellished with Russian, Cuban, Filipino, and Mauritian performances”.
There is a century-long Chinese history in Edmonton.
“The Chinese community has been in Edmonton for 100 years and the carnival were hosted at Chinatown until 10 years ago,” Mr Ng concluded his crash history lesson.
Admission is free to the Chinese Catholic Parish Chinese New Year carnival at the Mary Help of Christians Church with performances and food. Over 4,500 people visited the event last year. The Vietnamese Community is hosting their New Year at the Edmonton Convention Centre this weekend. Paying respects to the ancestors through offerings it is essentially a celebration of the Vietnamese culture with food, performances and the night market till 1.00 am with sticky rice cakes, spring rolls, pho and coffee.
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre New Year celebration has been going on for the last over 10 years. It is a two-weekend event running from 11 am to 6 pm with free breakfast on Jan 18 between 10.30-12.30, followed by some multicultural performances. On January 25, sponsors and politicians will dot the eyes of the dead lions with the traditional Chinese pen and they will come alive around noon and dance for approx. 20 minutes. Food booths from multicultural communities will be present to appease all palates. Over the four days of the event 2–4,000 enthusiasts will make the event every day. Kevin Li, an Event Coordinator, says he is excited about the food and performances from a wide variety of cultures that will make the event more vibrant and beautiful so he expects a much larger crowd this year.
