Richmond rejoices Chinese New Year

Photo by Julia Pelish
Vacay.ca Visuals Editor

In any culture, traditions are thick with meaning, but in the Chinese culture, I’ve discovered, symbolism permeates everything. Whether it’s the preparation methods used in making food, the number of a street address or the colour of a garment, there is much below the surface and lots to understand in the details. At this time of year, those of us from outside of the culture have the opportunity to peer into a Chinese celebration that sometimes mirrors and sometimes contrasts our western traditions.

In 2014, Chinese New Year  (or Lunar New Year) also known as the Spring Festival in China falls on January 31, the date of the year’s first new moon. Festivities will run for 15 days until the full moon on February 14. In Richmond, a Vancouver suburb that’s a pleasant 25-minute train ride from downtown, the celebrations are more alive than anywhere else in Canada. There are fireworks, big feasts, euphoric parties, and plenty of hopeful wishes.

At Aberdeen Centre, a Hong Kong-style mall one block from the Canada Line train station, a countdown celebration to the Chinese New Year takes place tonight (January 30) in the central atrium. Thousands of Richmond residents and visitors will fill the mall and no doubt indulge in the unique treats sold there. Revellers celebrate the onrushing Year of the Horse — said to be a particularly good time to travel — with ceremonial splendour and blessings from the Chinese God of Fortune.

When I walked through the mall this week, I learned about Hong Bao, small red envelopes and packages with new currency tucked inside. Married people traditionally hand out these envelopes to the unmarried so children are among the lucky money recipients. Special sweets and foods are exchanged between neighbours and family. Red is everywhere because it symbolizes luck and prosperity. One reason? It wards off the Nian, a mythical monster that is afraid of noise and the colour red.

Like I said, there is much to be gleaned from the details. Exploring Richmond is fascinating, because it is so familiar and yet so charmingly foreign at the same time. Of the 205,000 residents in the city, 65% are Asian, including 44% who are Chinese. You’ll find more than 400 Asian restaurants in the area, many of them serving Cantonese, Shanghainese and Hong Kong cuisine of a quality rarely found outside of the far east. Plus, there’s shopping, history, and a cultural education to be discovered — all conveniently close to one of Canada’s largest cities.

This photo from Aberdeen Centre was taken with a Nikon D7000 using a 16-85mm lens, set on f5.6, 1/40th of a second, ISO 720. It is a documentary-style photograph taken as a closeup to show the vibrant colours on display for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

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MORE CHINESE NEW YEAR EVENTS IN RICHMOND, BC

January 31, 11 am
Yahoan Centre’s Chinese New Year Celebration
700 No. 3 Road
This grand Chinese New Year celebration features a dragon dance, lion dance, fire crackers, and green picking and greetings from the God of Fortune.

January 31, 11 am
Aberdeen Centre’s Golden Dragon and Lion Dance
4400 Hazelbridge Way
Following the lighting of firecrackers, watch the dragon and eight lions come to life as they welcome the Year of the Horse. The lions will also visit each store to perform the green ceremony.

January 31, 3-5 pm
Year of the Horse Lion Dance Celebration
Richmond Public Market, 8260 Westminster Highway
Come watch the lion dance weave throughout the mall.

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