It’s the year of the Dragon and the Chinese Lunar New Year is being celebrated once again at the only authentic Chinese seafood restaurant in Westpoint, Blacktown.
Also referred to as Spring Festival, this is an important annual feast celebrated by Chinese round the globe. The festival is based on Chinese calendar and starts on the first month (as per the Chinese calendar) and ends on the fifteenth day of the first month.
At Crystal Seafood Restaurant, Chinese New Year 2012 will be celebrated on Sunday, the 22nd of January. It is the year of Dragon, the most auspicious animal as per the Chinese zodiac.
Crystal Seafood owner Raymond Li says “this new year features contemporary and traditional Chinese cultural activities, dances, festivities, singing, Chinese opera, arts and crafts, karaoke competition, innumerable stalls of culinary delights,”
The Chinese New Year festival is open to all, regardless of age barriers. The key is to explore the rich cultural Chinese heritage by being a part of it.
Lunar New Year is known as “Tet Nguyen Dan” in Vietnam, “Setsubon” in Japan and Korean New Year in South Korea. It is a great annual event in Chinese communities around the world. Families and friends gather for a special dinner in celebration of this special week-long holiday.
Red envelopes (containing money) with Chinese characters printed in gold are distributed to children. This tradition is practiced worldwide as a sign of good luck and prosperity in the coming year.