Millions of Asians celebrate the Lunar New Year around the world. The Year of the Rabbit officially began on February 3. In China, people set off fireworks to welcome 4709. Celebrations will last 15 days ending with the full moon on the Lantern Festival. This festival is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade. The increasing presence of Chinese migrants around the world is making this celebration more popular every year.
Many Canadian cities joined their Chinese neighbours in the celebration of these festivities. For instance, the Canada-China Business Association staged a multicultural Spring Festival evening in Richmond. Even Canada Post has created a new stamp to commemorate the 2011 Chinese New Year
Canada has about 1.3 million Chinese-Canadians, but also hosts large community of Koreans and others from Southeast Asian nations who were also celebrating the Lunar New Year. “For so many thousands of years, this has been a tradition. Overseas we can bring this tradition into focus and have the community serving together, enjoy the day and the time with the greater community. This is the spirit of multiculturalism,” said Lee, himself an immigrant from Hong Kong.
In the United States, Barack Obama sent best wishes to Americans of Asian descent and desired that they “carry on the rich traditions of their heritage, reminding us again that America’s strength comes from the richness of our cultures and the diversity of our people.” California Governor Jerry Brown recognized the “important contributions” Chinese Americans have made to his state.
In the UK Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the enormous contribution the Chinese community makes to the UK and praised their values of “hard work, enterprise and community”.
The celebraton of the Chinese New Year has served as a platform for bringing the community together and reminding that diversity and inclusion are sources of strength.
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