As the city gears up for the annual Chinese New Year celebrations, the timings for the big day now have been announced so that families can be sure not to miss the likes of its popular lion and dragon dances.
Crowds are expected to gather in the city centre to see the local community welcome in what will be the Year of the Snake and, as previously reported, Chinatown Newcastle has confirmed that the date of its main celebration will be Sunday, February 2. The day-long event in Newcastle will include the annual parade – which features the traditional animal dances – plus music, performances and firecrackers.
The local Chinese community arranges the popular annual celebrations for Chinese New Year – also known as Lunar New Year – along with Newcastle City Council and NE1 Ltd, the business improvement district company which has now announced the day’s timings. Starting at 11am there will be food on sale from a range of local vendors set up in Bath Lane, at the end of Stowell Street which is at the heart of Chinatown.
The parade – with the lion and dragon dancers – will kick off the main action at 11.30am at Grey’s Monument and its route will take in Blackett Street where spectators will be able to view its spectacular costumes as it passes. Accompanied by drummers, the procession will make its way to Gallowgate then on to Stowell Street where it is expected to reach the Chinese Arch – the opposite end to Bath Lane – at midday.
(Image: Thomas Jackson)
Here there will be dance finales and firecrackers in front of spectators and VIP guests and this loud and colourful mix of performances, lasting around 45 minutes, will feature – beside dramatic lion and dragon dances – the likes of martial arts display teams from the Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu, Lion and Dragon Club, again performing alongside traditional drummers.
Yvonne Ng, a member of the Chinese Festivities Group which organises the event, said: “Lunar New Year is a hugely important festival in the Chinese calendar and we are delighted that Newcastle embraces the traditions and supports the festivities. We urge everyone to come into the city to experience the delights of traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in all their loud, colourful and fire-cracking glory.”
She added: “The drummers and dragon dancers are a spectacle to behold and shouldn’t be missed. Everyone is welcome.”
(Image: Thomas Jackson)
Visitors can also expect cultural displays of Chinese arts and dances by 11 community groups, including a local school and a scout troupe who will be parading with 6ft snakes created by pupils and cubs. Also among the performers will be students from the Mandarin-speaking Chinese school in Jesmond who will play drums while a team from the Cantonese-speaking Chinese School in Heaton will show off their own lions and dragons.
Other highlights will include a Tai Chi performance by dancers wearing traditional costumes and a re-enactment of a celebratory rowing dance, which historically would be performed in Chinese fishing villages on festive occasions. At the end of the main performances, the lion and dragon dancers will continue the tradition of visiting all the restaurants in Stowell Street as part of a ceremony to bring them good fortune and chase away the evil spirits who bring bad luck.
The day’s programme, which will run until 4pm, promises to be a feast of entertainment, immersed in the traditions of Chinese culture. Chinatown will be running a range of family activities and families can visit an arts and crafts tent in Bath Lane and enjoy fairground rides.
Coun Abdul Samad, the council’s cabinet member for culture, music and arts, said the city is proud to host the festivities as a vibrant testament to its rich cultural diversity and called the event a “joyous” occasion” which also supports local business. “These celebrations are not just about ringing in the Year of the Snake but about embracing and honouring the various cultures that make up our great community,” he said.
(Image: Thomas Jackson)
Ben Whitfield, director of communications at NE1 Ltd, said: “We have loved working with the North East Chinese community in Newcastle to organise this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations,” adding: We’re excited to see the celebrations return this year and look forward to an even larger turn-out.”
For information about Chinese New Year and the meaning behind the different animals from the Chinese zodiac see here. The animals change annually on a 12-year cycle: find out here how it works and how to find out your own animal year.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/newcastle-timings-chinese-new-year-30831810
