The 4,709th Chinese New Year, which begins Jan. 23, is traditionally a time for exploding firecrackers, festive lion and dragon dancers, astrology forecasts, lively games and sumptuous banquets.
As the Year of the Dragon approaches, organizers from Edmonton’s Chinese community have made a conscious decision to expand their annual festivities outside the community.
Normally a one-day event, the Chinese New Year Carnival celebrations have been expanded to three days, Jan. 20 to 22, at the centrally located Metropolis Festival on Winston Churchill Square and at City Centre Mall in the East Atrium, lower level.
“We are promoting our culture and we hope to educate the public at large,” says event organizer Stephen Tsang. “By better understanding and accepting our culture, we hope to have more peace on Earth and reduce conflict, especially when China is growing so fast and there is more myth than fact about it. And a festival like this brings about more understanding.”
As the Year of the Black Dragon or Water Dragon approaches, members of the community have pulled out all the stops to celebrate this legendary creature from the sky that was used as a symbol of power for the Emperor.
“The dragon is a symbol for China. He is strong, self-assured, noble, eccentric, passionate and artistic.”
In honour of this magnificent creature, the Friday night activities launch at Metropolis with a dragon dance performed by 13 McNally High School students hoisting a 16-foot dragon costume.
Following is a lion dance performed on a pedestal about four feet off the ground, along with numerous activities that range from a tea ceremony and calligraphy arts to a wishing tree and a fortune stick game.
The Saturday kick-off is a Good Fortune Parade with lion dancers and 12 children dressed as animals from the zodiac. Like Pied Pipers they start at Winston Churchill Square and invite everyone to join them as they head toward City Centre Mall.
While City Centre hosts a program that blends a Peacock Dance and Fan Dance, Metropolis focuses on traditional dances and martial arts demonstrations.
Last year with the cold weather, the one-day event attracted 3,000 attendees.
This year Tsang expects to break past records. The Edmonton Chinese Bilingual Education Association, the Confucius Institute of Edmonton and the Chinese Graduates Association of Alberta are providing more than 800 performers and volunteers.
“In Chinese culture, festivals, food and family values are important. A festival like this brings a small piece of our culture to the city.”
Friday hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 12 noon to 6 p.m.
