Crafts, cooking and storytime are among the activities being offered in New West in celebration of the Lunar New Year.
According to chinesenewyear.net, Chinese New Year marks the transition between the zodiac signs – with 2023 being the Year of the Rabbit and 2022 being the Year of the Tiger. Chinese New Year 2023 is on Sunday, Jan. 22, but the celebration culminates with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 5.
Elaine Su, who was recently named as New Westminster’s 2022 Citizen of the Year and is chair of the New Westminster Library Board, will be hosting Lunar New Year events at the main branch of the public library on Saturday Jan. 7.
That day, the library is holding an all-ages drop-in Mandarin storytime event that features stories and singing. It’s taking place in the auditorium at the main branch from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
On the same day, community members can celebrate Lunar New Year from 11 a.m. to noon by making a festive decoration to take home. It’s free, but registration is required by calling 604-527-4677 or emailing [email protected]. (Caregiver participation is required.)
As part of the Lunar New Year, the library has also set up a book display in its youth department.
Record readers may recall reading about Su in January 2021, when she went door to door in her Sapperton neighbourhood asking neighbours if they’d be willing to put some Lunar New Year decorations on their doors.
“As a Chinese-Canadian family, Lunar New Year is a really special time for us,” Su wrote in a note to her neighbours. “We’re trying to raise our kids to be as excited about their cultural celebrations as they are about Halloween and Christmas and everything else we celebrate. That feeling of shared excitement, the sense of community celebrating together is a big part of what makes holidays and festivals so magical.”
In January 2021, more than 50 neighbours embraced the opportunity to decorate their doors for Lunar New Year. Su’s initiative also prompted the city to contemplate future Lunar New Year activities for the community.
Family fun
The City of New Westminster has several activities planned in 2023 in celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Fortune in Your Hands, taking place on Sunday, Jan. 15 at Centennial Community Centre, is a workshop where folks aged six and up can celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit with a traditional paper-cutting art experience. Attendees will create their own unique “fortune” banner decoration.
Workshops run from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and from 1 to 2:15 p.m. They’re free, but you can register at 604-525-7388 for the 11 a.m. session (170024) or the 1 p.m. workshop (170025).
A Family Sky Lantern Workshop is another free event taking place on Sunday, Jan. 15. It’s happening at Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St., from 2 to 5 p.m.
“Listen to a storytelling, celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and decorate your own sky lanterns,” said a notice about the event. “Open to anyone wanting to drop in, learn and light up the sky.”
The Asian-Canadian Special Events Association will be providing an instructor for the workshop. All supplies are provided.
The city’s Lunar New Year offerings – part of Shine Bright New West – also include two cooking programs.
Shine Bright: Lunar New Year Cooking (six to 12 years) is on Saturday, Jan. 14 at Centennial Community Centre and Saturday, Jan. 21 at Queensborough Community Centre. Both sessions run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
At the hour-and-a-half sessions, participants will learn to cook a delicious meal to celebrate the Lunar New Year. To register for the sessions ($20) call Centennial Community Centre at 604-777-5100 (registration number 164290) or Queensborough Community Centre at 604-525-7388 (registration code 164286).
Folks of all ages are invited to attend Culinary Heritage: Cooking for Lunar New Year. It’s on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Olivet Baptist Church.
“Explore Chinese heritage through food,” said a notice about the event. “Make fried sesame smiley balls for Lunar New Year. Cook together, explore cultural heritage and taste the recipe.”
The free program is being held at the Olivet Baptist Church community kitchen in partnership with Family Services of Greater Vancouver. To register (code 165751) call 604-527-4640.
