Thousands of Calgarians join in celebration of Chinese New Year

Thousands of Calgarians converge on the Chinese Cultural Centre to celebrate the Year of the Horse

The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre threw open its doors Sunday to welcome the city to join the community in its annual Chinese New Year celebration.

It’s the biggest holiday in China, where everyone must make it home to have family dinner, said Tony Wong, former president of Calgary’s Chinese Cultural Centre.

“One billion people are on the move, making their way home to be at the dinner table. So that is the biggest event (in the country) -- bigger than Christmas,” Wong said.

In China, New Year’s celebrations take place over a 10-day period, while in Calgary, the celebrations take place over the second and third weekend of the month.

Wong said Sunday’s events included performances, a dragon dance, lion dance, martial arts demonstrations, traditional folk dance, music and a range of other cultural groups as well.

Alberta premier Danielle Smith also dropped by to hand out lucky red envelopes shortly after noon.

“Everyone is coming down to join in the celebration,” Wong said. “We have a Yew Year’s market selling everything related to and not related to Chinese culture!”

Year of the Horse

“The horse is very energetic and has quite a hot temper, and it moves fast, and it represents power, and it is believed to be passionate,” Wong said. “And in Chinese, we have a saying that when the horse arrive, that means the project has been completed and successful.”

One of the vendors Sunday was Christina Liu, who runs Bing’s Hand-Made Accessories.

“I’m selling all kinds of clothes and hats,” Liu said.

“It’s really, really fun,” she said. “I want to see more Chinese join the join the Chinese New Year. And I see a lot of like Canadians also love Chinese New Year, so I think this is really a good occasion.”

Si Si Wu was there visiting with her six-year-old daughter Liliana. Wu said she was born in China so New Year’s is a big deal for her.

“Celebrating the Chinese New Year festival is always a tradition in my country,” she said.

As for Liliana, Si Si said she hoped to be able to share some Chinese culture with her Canadian-born daughter.

“It’s always important for us to know where we come from and where our background (is from),” she said. “I’m glad she was born here, but also I want to want her to engage in some of the traditional Chinese culture.”

New Year’s celebrations continue next weekend at the Chinese Cultural Centre.