Kung Hei Fat Choy means Happy New Year. You are going to hear a lot of it during February. Yes, February, not January. It is the Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year this month. Unlike our Western calendar when New Year's Day is always on the 1st of January (conveniently) the first day of the Chinese or Lunar New Year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February because of its cyclical (lunar) nature. This year the start of Chinese New Year falls on Friday 16 February 2018. The year is called
The Year of the Dog. If you were born in 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, or 2006 you were born under the sign of the dog. And, like dogs, you are likely to be friendly and loyal to your friends and family. The Lunar New Year dates from about 2600 BC, when the Chinese zodiac was introduced.
image from organiser's FB page
The Multicultural Community Centre, at 23 Foster Street, Newmarket, is hosting its second annual Chinese
New Year Night Markets and Variety Show to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year. I am sure that there will be many families who go along to enjoy this auspicious New Year festivity. Admission is
free with plenty of activities awaiting the whole family including:
fun games for the children,
delicious Chinese street food,
cultural performances from China,
You won't want to miss the spectacular lion dance performance as the Chinese New Year is welcomed in.
image from organiser's website
The Night Markets and Variety show will be held on Saturday, 3rd of February from 4.30 to 9pm. That allows you plenty of time to browse the market, eat some yummy Chinese food for dinner, watch the stage shows and festivities and have a fun night out for the whole family.
For further information
click here
Kung Hei Fat Choy!
Neil the Chinese garden statue (Image by May Cross)
