Lunar New Year Unity Parade and International Fair
The Annual lunar new year unity parade started off for a day-long multi-cultural celebration. There is also an international fair which is organized for the occasion.
All the community members and area residents are invited to join in the festivities.
Participants from different cultural backgrounds take part in stage performances in the international fair. Many informational exhibits from around the world are set up to serve the visitors. The event features bagpipers, marching bands from different schools, ethnic dancers, martial arts demonstrations like Kung-fu, parade teams and traditional Lion Dancers.
This year the chinese new year is going to be celebrated on Feb 7th. Chinese new year also known as the lunar new year is an important traditional holiday in East Asia. This festival begins on the first day of the first lunar month containing a new moon in the chinese calendar and ends on the Lantern festival called the Yuanxiao Festival on the 15th. The lunar calendar is represented by twelve animals. Each year is represented by one animal. The 12 animals in order are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Chinese zodiac is also based on the 12 animals. The year of 2008 is going to be of "Rat".
It is celebrated with great pomp and show not only in China but in other parts of the world like in Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan. Nowadays, because of the vast population of chinese in America, it is also celebrated with big fan-fare in the U.S.A.
