Chinese New Year 2011: Year of the Rabbit
One of the most enduringly popular events on the Sydney calendar is the Chinese New Year celebration that takes place over two weeks in late-January and February. Not only is this the biggest event of the year for Sydney’s Chinese community, it also is celebrated with equal gusto by the sizeable Korean and Vietnamese communities and festival-loving Sydney residents in general.
Beginning with a vibrant opening celebration, free Chinese New Year events and activities bring to the city 15 days of Asian flair, ending with the auspicious Lantern Festival and the arrival of the full moon.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2011 (which on Western calendars begins February 3) is the Year of the Rabbit. While a rabbit year is traditionally considered a year of quiet and respite after the fiery Year of the Tiger, the New Year celebrations in and around Chinatown will be anything but: The launch celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. in Belmore Park January 28 and firecrackers will be ignited to scare away the previous year’s misfortune, while cymbals and gongs announce the arrival of dancing dragons and shimmying lions. It’s joyously chaotic stuff.
The park also will host the Chinese New Year markets from January 28-30, with more than 50 stalls offering Asian cuisine, New Year's gifts, crafts and activities. Local and international performers will showcase Chinese opera, lion dancing, martial arts and classical and contemporary music. There'll even be an open-air karaoke screen.
The highlight of the festival is the Town Hall-to-Chinatown Twilight Parade February 6. Led by a spectacular float performing an ancient Hoi Gong, or "eye-dotting" ceremony said to awaken the spirit of the dragons, the parade is a visual feast featuring fireworks, swirling costumes, glittering lanterns, flag bearers, stilt walkers, and (especially for this year) a giant rabbit fashioned from recycled metal.
The province of Hubei in central China is known for its culture of musical and artistic achievement, and this year provincial residents -- including more than 250 wudang martial artists and dancers from Hubei -- will dazzle spectators at the Twilight Parade, the launch celebration and the markets.
Finally, another annual Sydney tradition, the Dragon Boat Races (February 12-13), will bring the celebrations to a close with two full days of competition on Darling Harbour.
HelloSydney Tip: Dozens more events and activities are being planned at venues across Sydney. Keep your eye out for the official calendar on www.sydneychinesenewyear.com.au.
Posted by Fiona Davies
