Celebrate Chinese New Year, Sunday 8th Feb '09
by What's On NE
The Year of the Ox
Chinatown, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sunday 8th February 2009
FIRECRACKERS, dragon, lion and unicorn dancing, food, fun and entertainment for the whole family – Chinese New Year celebrations in Newcastle promise all this and more!
This colourful yearly event marks the most important celebration for Chinese people all over the world. China has an awe-inspiring history of five thousand years and the Chinese take pride in their cultural heritage.
The Chinese Lunar Calendar follows twelve years, each named after an animal -
the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. 2009 celebrates the Year of the Ox, and those born under this sign are said to be stable, persevering, tolerant and of strong character. Famous Oxen include film producer Walt Disney, singer Bruce Springsteen, actors Eddie Murphy, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda and Jack Nicholson as well as Chinese singers and actors Kelly Chan, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Alec Sun, singer and songwriter Zhou Bichang and LA Lakers basketball star Sun Yu.
Each year The Chinese Festivity Group organises a spectacular celebration in the heart of Newcastle’s Chinatown, bringing together families from throughout the North East region to celebrate Chinese culture in a day packed with entertainment, arts, crafts and delicious Chinese food.
Chinese New Year 2009 will explode into life on Sunday 8th February when, against a soundtrack of Firecrackers, traditional Dragon, Lion & Unicorn dances banish evil spirits and make way for good fortune and prosperity in The Year of the Ox.
Florence Qiu, Chair of the Chinese Festivity Group, said:
“ Chinese New Year is a celebration of revival, regeneration and revitalisation. Each year we look forward to this celebration of Chinese culture where East meets West and hundreds of families enjoy a great day out at this colourful event. We are very grateful to all of our supporters who make it possible for this event to grow in stature every year.”
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY FROM 11 am – 5pm
CHINESE CEREMONIAL ARCH
Stowell Street – 12 noon
Dragon, Lion & Unicorn Dances begin and travel throughout Chinatown
BATH LANE STAGE
A full programme of
Traditional Chinese Entertainment, including:
:: Circus Performance
:: Dancing Drummers
:: Traditional Chinese Dance
:: Chinese Martial Arts
:: Chinese Classical Music
:: Modern Dance
:: Chinese Pop Songs
:: Peking Opera
:: Lucky money envelopes at 4 pm
BATH LANE
Craft & Food stalls
STOWELL STREET
Chinese Restaurants
(Early booking advised)
North East Chinese Association – NECA Building, Stowell Street
Exhibition of Chinese costumes, demonstration of traditional Chinese brush-painting and calligraphy, Chinese food, Arts & Crafts
WATERLOO STREET
Arts & Crafts stalls
Chinese Centre, Waterloo Street
Computer workshops, internet surfing, making Chinese New Year cards,
refreshments
CHARLOTTE SQUARE
Children’s Marquee
Lantern making, paper cutting, face painting and creating Chinese masks
