Brian Hough
Contributor
The Navigator
The Nanaimo Museum will get an early start on one of the world’s most widely observed holidays, the Chinese Lunar New Year, on January 25 from 12-3pm.
Usually falling at the end of January or beginning of February, the Chinese New Year is a time to honour deities and ancestors. While rooted in Chinese culture, it is celebrated by many Asian cultures and countries including Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and many others. South Korea has its own New Year’s celebration that falls on the same day, and while many of the customs and iconography are different, the spirit is very similar in its focus on ancestry.
The Museum will be hosting family friendly events all afternoon, including the traditional Lion Dance—performed by local Lion Dance and Martial Arts instructor Jacky Li—as well as other cultural activities related to the holiday.
Additional cultural performances will take place from 1:30-3:30pm at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.
The Year of the Horse celebration is hosted in partnership by the Nanaimo Museum, Chinese Cultural Society, Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society, and new partners the Vancouver Island Conference Centre and Downtown Nanaimo BIA.
The official date of the Lunar New Year for 2014 is Friday, January 31. For more information, contact the Nanaimo Museum at 250-753-1821.