FROM SYDNEY TO AUCKLAND TO SAN FRANCISCO, MANCHESTER TO LONDON – GET READY TO CELEBRATE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR AND RING IN A YEAR OF GOOD FORTUNE AND PROSPERITY
The 2016 Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Chinese Spring Festival, begins on February 8, and it is deemed as an important holiday around the world featuring colorful decorations, parades, folk traditions, and a magical feast.
If you want to participate in the celebrations, there are many things you can do to join the festivities and to pay homage to Chinese traditions. Millions of Chinese, in communities around the world are expected to welcome the Year of the Monkey with sumptuous reunion dinners, dumplings, lion dances and fireworks. And while there are some serious continuing celebrations in China, there are also some pretty awesome parties happening in major countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, United States and the United Kingdom – from Sydney to Auckland to Birmingham to London and San Francisco, we’ve found the most popular things to do on 2016 Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year in Australia
You are in luck if you are Chinese and if you live in Australia, as many Australians celebrate Chinese New Year, which is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year.
In Australia, Chinese New Year is not proclaimed as a nationwide public holiday, nonetheless some Chinese businesses may be temporarily closed on the day or adjust their business hours to join in the Chinese New Year festivities. Don’t be surprised if you see heavy traffic especially in some streets, where Chinese New Year celebrations are held. As in many countries around the world, there’s an amazing array of events and activities to observe this annual celebration in Australia:
- Enjoy street festivals, parades and ceremonies highlighting arts, entertainment and children’s activities.
- There are Chinese New Year markets promoting crafts, food stalls and arts.
- In Sydney, you can celebrate the Lunar New Year with more than 70 events and festivals, such as the lion dance, lantern decorating workshop, tea ceremony, dragon boat race, K-Pop Party, and more. If you are visiting Sydney to celebrate Chinese New Year, it makes sense to hire a car in Sydney at VroomVroomVroom and immerse yourself in this vibrant city, as there’s no better way to see Australia than by a car rental.
- People dance, sing songs and wear red costumes to welcome the Chinese New Year.
- Brilliant and bright displays of Chinese lanterns, firecrackers and sophisticated fireworks.
- The majority of Chinese Australian families celebrate Chinese New Year by meeting together for a festive meal, where certain and lucky dishes are prepared because of their symbolic meaning. The most essential Chinese New Year dishes include spring rolls, fish, niangao, and dumplings.
- Children often receive red envelopes (also known as Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See) with money which are traditionally given to bring good fortune as well as prosperity.
- In all, the Chinese New Year celebrations can last for about 15 days. Normally, it is a hectic time brimmed with festive programs across different communities in Australia.
Chinese New Year in New Zealand
New Zealand prides itself on observing the various cultures of the numerous ethnic groups that abide in this land and, as home to a growing Chinese community, the Chinese New Year is also well-celebrated here. For Chinese communities residing in New Zealand, celebrating New Year is just as meaningful and fun as in China.
- This year, get charmed and be amazed by more than 800 handmade Chinese lanterns, breathtaking on-stage performances with historic and popular festivities, plus Chinese artworks and more.
- In Auckland, the Chinese Community Centre, Inc. has been organising an annual Chinese New Year celebration for nearly 30 years. The fun event has rapidly grown in popularity over the past years, and has now become a main feature in the Auckland summer events calendar, which normally draws nearly 30,000 people in attendance.
- Furthermore, the Auckland Lantern Festival is an enchanting event that celebrates Chinese culture. It is now deemed as one of the city’s most prepared and favourite events.
- Other highlights include a street full of stalls selling an exquisite and luscious Asian delicacies and crafts, the dragon and lion dance, lantern making demonstrations, martial arts, dance, and live music extravaganza from international performers, plus a grand finale fireworks display. If you are planning to celebrate Chinese New Year at the 2016 Auckland Lantern Festival, VroomVroomVroom can help you find the perfect car rental in Auckland.
Chinese New Year in the United Kingdom
While Chinese New Year is not a public holiday in the UK, it should be noted that parades and large scale public celebrations can lead to some local interruption to traffic, specifically in city centers and Chinatown areas. In addition, selected Chinese shops and other businesses may keep different hours during the celebration.
Chinese communities in the UK celebrate with traditional parades and public celebrations close to the first day of the Chinese new year. Generally, these include the following:
- Lion dances in shopping malls and city centers.
- Performances of traditional and contemporary Chinese dance and music.
- Communal meals and tasting sessions of traditional Chinese and Chinese inspired foods.
- Short courses and lectures on Chinese history, language and culture.
- Exhibitions of art and crafts created by artists from China or of Chinese decent.
- Families, community centers and student associations often also hold private celebrations. These may be small parties at home or larger events for hundreds or thousands of people. Special dishes representing luck and happiness in the Chinese New Year are often served.
- Displays of lanterns and grand fireworks.
There are numerous events to celebrate the Chinese New Year in UK. Remember that majority of these events are open to the general public and are customarily friendly and welcoming for different people of all backgrounds to discover more about the Chinese culture. The popular, larger public celebrations are usually held in central London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Sheffield, so if you want to celebrate the Chinese New Year in style, make sure to book a car hire with VroomVroomVroom and enjoy great offers especially when you book your Manchester car hire with us.
Chinese New Year in the United States
Many people in countries such as the United States also welcome the Chinese New Year with a bang. In California, the annual event is a legal observance. Anticipate traffic in towns or cities where Chinese New Year celebrations are celebrated.
While Chinese New Year is not a federal public holiday in the United States, still a large number of people, especially Chinese communities, get involved in the Chinese New Year celebrations. And like any other countries, New Year celebrations in the U.S., in the past years consist of colorful-filled activities and events.
- Be part of the fun and witness Chinese New Year parades featuring radiant costumes, floats, firecrackers and other notable and attractions.
- In San Francisco, the Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is regarded as the biggest celebration of its kind in the entire world, pulling more than three million spectators and television viewers. If you need a car rental in San Francisco, you will find great the best car hire prices at VroomVroomVroom.
- Watch several traditional dances, such as lion and dragon dances.
- Celebrate fun runs or walks in Chinatown.
- Get fascinated with balls and pageants, street fairs and spectacular firework displays.
- Majority of Chinese-American families usually celebrate together and do exchange gifts, in addition, children are given money wrapped in red and gold packages.
- A few or select companies hold contests or make proclamations to go along with Chinese New Year, such as special announcement on Top 5 Chinese restaurants in a city published on some newspaper or magazine.
Have you ever been to a Chinese New Year’s celebration? Which tradition do you find most appealing: New Year’s Eve dinner, shou sui, lion dances, dragon boat races, red packets, or fireworks? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.
