Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year – it's the beginning of the other cycle of the moon and the agricultural cycle in many areas.
Many people know it is the major holiday in China, but it's also celebrated in countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines.
It's also called Spring Festival, because it's a sign that spring is just around the corner.
Some Richmond residents shared with us their celebrations or memories of this tradition:
Mary Wang
Renovation
We will have a reunion dinner with family and friends at a Chinese restaurant on Chinese New Year eve. No matter how busy we are, we always take time out to celebrate the festival, despite that we don’t have a day off. It is our Chinese tradition.
Randy O’Hara
Social service
I used to work in a hotel and in the laundry room there were Chinese ladies. Every February they would give me cookies and fried treats. I think it was a good luck thing for them. I really enjoyed that. I felt respected when they were doing that for me.
Xuqiang Huang
Sales
My family and friends’ families will have a big dinner on Chinese New Year eve. Almost 20 people will come. We will have traditional food such as hand-making dumplings and hotpot. I will call my family in China and watch the replay of Chinese New Year gala when I have time.
Linda Jacobsen
Retired
It’s not something I grew up with. When I moved to Vancouver in the 1980s, I started going with friends to the Chinatown parade. I enjoyed the parade and the food. My friends took me to dim sum for the first time, so Chinese New Year reminds me of the first time I enjoyed dim sum.
Jian Liang
Small business
Our Chinese New Year celebration is very simple. Because we have been in Canada for a long time, and we are very busy with work, we don’t celebrate it very much. Sometimes I will meet with friends around this time. Everyone is so busy. I seldom go to celebration events or give red envelopes.
