- blogs.telegraph.co.uk/
A huge part of Chinese New Year, for me, are the lights. The crackle and boom of fireworks were ubiquitous during the 15 days of celebration – even before that. Lanterns and dazzling lights take over the streets. Every year, when the huge countdown clock on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala reaches 00:00, I’d run down the four flights of stairs into the shared community garden. There, the real show begins, as we send rockets of colour and glitter into the night sky, along with our hopes and dreams for the new year. It is truly a magical moment, shared with friends, neighbours, even strangers.
Even more importantly, Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate family. Back when China was mostly rural, winter was a break from farming, an opportunity to spend time with loved ones.
Those are the two things I miss most about Lunar New Year in China.
However – Calgary being the multicultural capital it is, with a Chinese population of 75,410 (according to Calgary Economic Development) – there are plenty of ways to celebrate. (Besides, being in the 21st Century, we have the privilege of using the Internet to watch programs, video call family and friends halfway across the globe, or learn to make legit dumplings – skip to 1:30)
- visitcalgary.com
Chinatown, of course, hosts a variety of cultural performances, exhibitions and events during this time of the (lunar) year. There’s dance, song, martial arts, calligraphy, and classical instruments. There were even ice sculptures on display.
Many churches and Chinese associations also host Lunar New Year galas or potlucks. It’s like… “family away from family”?
The sense of joy is definitely present – though I can’t say the same for those beautiful, explosive fire-hazards. I guess there’s always sparklers.
