Central Albertans ushered in the Year of the Snake with traditional Chinese instruments and a traditional lion dance.
The Red Deer and District Chinese Community Society hosted its annual Lunar New Year celebration at Festival Hall on Saturday, Feb. 8. More than 300 people attended the event, which featured a variety of live performances, including music, martial arts, dancing and singing, as well as a buffet dinner.
"This is such an exciting night," said Lawrence Lee, president of the society.
"We have so many people here, celebrating with their families and their friends. We're here to celebrate with the community so they can bring happiness and good spirits into the new year."
The annual Lunar New Year celebration is a special night for people originally from China who now live in Central Alberta, Lee noted.
"You get a little sense of home," said Lee.
"We try to do that through the lion dance, which is a great celebration that you'll see throughout the world.
"There are a lot of newcomers here tonight, as well as people who grew up in China and moved to Canada a long time ago. Many of those have travelled back to China whenever they can — this time of year is one of the biggest migrations of people."
The Chinese New Year migration, also known as Chunyun, is the world's largest annual migration of people. This migration typically begins 15 days before the first day of Chinese New Year, which runs from Jan. 29 to Feb. 12 this year. (The first day of Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, begins on the new moon that appears between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20.)
2025 is the Year of the Snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
Snakes can be viewed with both fear and reverence in Chinese culture. On the one hand, venomous snakes are associated with darkness. But in Chinese mythology, snakes are also known as “little dragons,” and the skin they shed is known as “the dragon's coat,” symbolizing good luck, rebirth and regeneration. The snake also symbolizes the pursuit of love and happiness. In Chinese culture, they are grouped with the turtle and crane as a symbol of longevity.
For more information on the Red Deer and District Chinese Community Society, visit www.reddeerchinesesociety.com.
