Welcome the Year of the Ox at Lunar New Year celebrations
The pandemic has dampened some of the festivities but there is plenty to enjoy across the country
Bright lanterns, red envelopes being passed from hand to hand, steaming baskets of dumplings, dragon dances and pounding drums — they are some of the sights, sounds and tastes visitors can expect at dozens of Lunar New Year celebrations across the country.
From Friday and for 16 days, revellers with heritage and links to east and southeast Asian nations will welcome the Year of the Ox.
Although the pandemic has thrown a wet blanket on some annual events — effectively slaying Melbourne’s big dragon parade and cancelling celebrations in Tasmania altogether — in other cities, including Melbourne, there’s still much to enjoy.
“If you come to Chinatown, there’s still going to be that wow factor,” said Eng Lim, president of the Melbourne Dragon Society. “Chinatown will shine the brightest it’s ever been.”
In her city, celebrations begin as early as Thursday with a 9pm and midnight countdown to welcome the New Year.
“The first countdown at 9pm will allow for children to soak in the atmosphere of Chinatown before enjoying a milk drink to celebrate the year of the Ox — and then go to bed,” she said.
In Sydney, about 80 events will take place across the CBD including an array of cultural performances, food tours, lion dances and a market.
There are celebrations outside the city centre in Burwood, Hurstville and Chatswood, where the ABC’s Jennifer Wong will host an all-Asian comedy line-up including comedians Nina Oyama, Aaron Chen, Lizz Hoo and Harry Jun.
In Brisbane, Lunar New Year events are part of a larger BrisAsia festival.
“From lion dancers and stilt walkers to firecrackers and Japanese drummers, Fortitude Valley will be a cultural hotspot on Saturday night and we are so glad to see dozens of performers and artists back on centre stage following a year of event cancellations,” said Vicki Howard, chair of community, arts and night-time economy for the City of Brisbane.
About 14km from the CBD in Sunnybank, where about a third of the population has Chinese ancestry, locals and visitors can enjoy food tours, fruit carving, calligraphy and embroidery workshops.
In Perth, the signature event is at the WA Museum Boola Bardip on Sunday, where a gigantic Lunar New Year fair will be open from midday until late.
“The Perth Chinese New Year Fair is the biggest Chinese (Lunar) New Year in Western Australia,” said Lesley Wong, project co-ordinator at the Chung Wah Association, which organised this year’s events.
“It’s quite a mixture, but I would say it’s a very Australian celebration.”
The two-decade-old LNY street party will be Adelaide’s largest event.
In Darwin, celebrations were held a little earlier than usual, in the last week of January. There, the Northern Territory Chung Wah Society held a ball as well as cooking workshops, food stalls and calligraphy classes in its 72nd year of celebrating Lunar New Year.
More Coverage
’People who take advantage of negative gearing are not the bad guys’
He’s the former radio DJ turned authority on all things architecture and design. Now, Tim Ross turns his attention to how home ownership became an enduring national obsession.
A decade in the making, Wafia stuns on melodically rich debut
Once based in Brisbane, this talented artist has issued a series of superlative singles from her new home in LA, and her long-awaited debut album offers a treasure trove of alt-pop delights.