2012, it’s the Year of The Dragon. 龙年舞龙舞师大游行 This year in particular, the Chinese New Year Parade in Vancouver was all about the Golden Dragon with the Fortune God leading the way, of course. Otherwise the Chinese would not be happy. Neither would you since you won’t be getting any red package 红封包along the Fortune God’s path.
Money makes the world go around, world go around…
The parade started at the Millennium Gate and this year’s highlights included lion dances, police bagpipe bands, multicultural dancers and many more as they all wind their way through the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown along Pender, Gore, Keefer, Columbia and passing through the Dr. Sun Yet-Sen Garden among its route.
恭喜发财 Gung Hay Fat Choi or Gong Xi Fa Cai, whether it is Cantonese or Mandarin, the phrase heard often in Vancouver whether you’re Chinese or not, means the same thing – blessing for good fortune and prosperity.
VIDEO – Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, 50 East Pender Street, Vancouver BC
Kung Hei Fat Choi! Welcome to the Year of The Rabbit in 2011 in the Chinese Lunar Year Calendar!
VIDEO – CNY 2011 Parade in Vancouver Chinatown
The Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade is one of the three largest processions in the city. I am guessing the other two being the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Parade and the Gay Parade where many of the boys and girls are half-naked. You don’t see that at the CNY 2011 parade in Chinatown for sure. For one thing, it is in the middle of winter right now although Vancouver is certainly one of the warmest spot in Canada.
On February 06, 2011, the parade started at the Millennium Gate on Carrall and Pender Street. It was said to have the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada. Some 3,000+ participants from various culture groups and community centers. Tens of thousands spectators (some say 50,000) lined up along the parade route on Pender, Gore, Keefer and Columbia Street to watch the procession despite a light rain.
The CNY 2011 Parade is actually part of the 2011 Year of The Rabbit Vancouver Chinatown Spring festival in which a number of cultural sites in the Chinatown area were having their own cultural activities such as more lion and dragon dances, Chinese folk music performance and dancing, kung-fu demonstration, firecrackers, Cantonese and Chinese opera etc. As with Christmas, there are special Chinese new year songs that were sung at various gatherings throughout the area. These were located at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, Chinatown Plaza, and International Village. All within walking distance to one another.
One of the most popular deity in the Chinese New Year parade that everyone would clamor to meet was the Fortune God. He greeted everyone on his path and handed out red envelops known as ‘lai sze’ (Cantonese) or hóng b?o (Mandarin) which was meant to bring good luck to the recipient.
It is not just for the Chinese. Many other Asian countries such as Vietnam, The Philippines etc. also celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.
How can one forget about Chinese food? To cap off the day’s activities, at 6 PM, a Spring Festival Gala banquet was held at the Floata Restaurant that was known as the ‘Thousand Guests Dinner’ with tickets available to the public at $35 a seat. The dinner was attended by many local politicians from the three levels of government. Alice Wong, MP, Ujjal Dosanjh, MP, John Yap, MLA, Jenny Kwan, MLA, Richard Lee, MLA, Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver, Suzanne Anton, Vancouver Councilor, Raymond Louie, Vancouver Councilor and others.
Millennium Gate, 30 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC
