Gong Xi Fa Cai, or Happy New Year!  The Chinese New Year occurred February 14th this year and people all over the world initiated the year of the Metal Tiger.  The traditions present during the 15-day celebration of the New Year are ancient, too old to even be dated.  Traditionally, each day of the celebration is dedicated to different activities, but modern festivities do not always stay true to the cultural origins of the holiday.  One of the more practiced customs of the Chinese New Year begins days before the actual New Year, when the entire house is cleaned to ‘sweep away any traces of bad luck’.  Doors and windowpanes are often painted red, a color that symbolizes happiness, and houses are adorned with lanterns and other garnishes.  On the first day of the New Year, Hong Bao, or Red Packet, takes place and during it, red envelopes are presented by married adults to children and occasionally, unmarried adults without jobs.  The dragon is also a key symbol in the New Year, representing prosperity, good luck, and good fortune.  This framework of the Chinese New Year has been used throughout the world, however, through diffusion, different adaptations are present all over the globe.
This year Hong Kong, a city known for its cultural diversity and spectacular New Year celebrations, continued its tradition of great festivities on New Years Day.  On February 14th, Hong Kong had its Chinese New Year Night Parade at 8 pm in Tsim Sha Tsui, the ‘heart and soul’ of beautiful Hong Kong.  The hour and a half long parade, which featured many drums and dragons undoubtedly, impressed all who saw it.  On the second day of the New Year, Hong Kong’s festivities continued with fireworks along the waterfront of Tsim Sha Tsui.  The third day of New Year celebrations in Hong Kong featured Lunar Year Races.  These activities, along with smaller festivities throughout Hong Kong, are sure to bring joy to those in the area.  The culture of this vibrant city is reflected in the awe-inspiring parades and festivities present during all of the 15 days of the Chinese New Year Celebration.
Although most people don’t realize it, Vancouver has a large population of Chinese people who all gathered together to celebrate the New Year.  Vancouver has the second largest Chinatown in North America and the populations in New York City and San Francisco are the only cities on the continent that tops its Chinese population in size.  The Chinese population of Vancouver joined Chinese people around the world in bringing in the New Year.  Thousands of people came to see the Vancouver parade, which featured drums, cymbals, firecrackers and a 100-metre-long Chinese-style dragon.  The dragon dance, which ensures favorable weather for the rest of the year, was also performed.  However, unlike past celebrations, the New Year’s festival was sprinkled with Olympic paraphernalia.
Most of us have been to Philadelphia’s Chinatown, however few have had the pleasure of being a part of its New Year celebration.  The activities in Chinatown on the Chinese New Year were just as plentiful as the beautiful decorations of the town.  There was “Chinese New Year World Culture Family Day” on January 23rd at the Penn Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, the “Chinese New Year Lion Dance and Parade” on New Year’s Eve, and the “Chinese New Year Festival of Lanterns” to close out the 15-day festivities.  Despite the snow, the Chinese New Year in Philadelphia was exciting and enjoyable.
In areas close to home, and countries across the globe, the Chinese New Year was celebrated this February 14th and in each and every country, the spirit of happiness present during the celebrations was one that will last the entire year.