Chinese New Year London
CHINESE NEW YEAR LONDON
7 February 2008 Year of the Rat
The New Year festival and parade for 2008 is on Sunday, 10th February 2008 and the event is FREE for all who wish to attend.
This annual event takes place in Chinatown, Leicester Square, Charing Cross Road and Trafalgar Square and is organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association. Last year 300,000 people attended the celebrations which are the largest outside Asia
At midnight on New Year's Eve the old year is sent out and the new year welcomed in with fireworks. On the stroke of midnight every door and window in the house has to be opened to allow the old year to go out.
The New Year parade starts from Chinatown and there are performers and dancers who dance the Lion Dance which brings good luck to all it passes. The dance is accompanied by gongs and cymbals which are used to scare away evil and bad luck.
The parade will make its way through Leicester Square, Charing Cross Road and end at Trafalgar Square. At Trafalgar Square – after an official opening ceremony at 12 noon – the stage and big screen will feature Chinese dragons, traditional and contemporary music and dance, and martial arts.
Leicester Square will bold displays of fireworks and firecrackers on the hour from 2-6pm and in Chinatown and the surrounding streets, there will be food and cultural stalls. A one-way system for pedestrians will be in place with access into Chinatown via Shaftesbury Avenue. New for 2008, will be activities for children and families in St Anne’s Gardens, off Wardour Street.
Celebrations for the 15 days of the Chinese New Year:
The Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. Traditionally a vegetarian meal is served on the first day of the new year but this is not always the case. Red is also a very popular color as it brings luck to all who wear it.
The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival and is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
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