Celebrate the Chinese New Year in London

The Year of the Dog is coming to a close. On the 5th of February, the Chinese community in London will celebrate the Chinese New Year with all the festivities and traditional rituals. The street shows and the public events, however, will take place on Sunday, the 10th of February. The Chinese New Year is a two-week long event, where jubilant crowds welcome the New Year and pray to the gods and ancestors for a year of good fortune and blessings.

When, where and at what time is the party starting?

Chinatown has been the heart of the Chinese community in London for decades. On the 10th of February, the Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road would be closed for the procession of dragons weaving through the street. The festival will start at 10 AM, with vibrantly decorated floats and dragon dances continuing through to 6 PM.

Who can visit?

China has a rich culture, a long history and a unique place in today’s economy. Luckily, you can visit   China by participating in events like these, without ever needing your passport. These events expose Londoners to the red and the gold of the Chinese culture. For those who worship food, this is yet another event to be a part of and enjoy the grandest Chinese food galore of the year. All you have to do is take the London Underground to Charing Cross Station and have a great Sunday evening. Drum performances are an essential part of the celebrations as they are believed to ward off evil spirits. There would be fireworks and synchronised Taekwondo demonstrations, so be ready for an exciting weekend. Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!

If this was the Year of the Dog, which animal is the next year associated with?

The next Chinese lunar year would be associated with the Year of the Pig. According to Chinese mythology, when Buddha decided the years would be marked and named after animals, all the animals in the countryside wanted the first year to be named after them. Buddha then decided to have a contest and declared that whichever creature crosses the river first would have the first year associated with it. The bull, being the strongest, powered through the currents of the river but did not realise that the rat had climbed onto its back. When the bull was near the other side of the river, the clever rat jumped onto the river bank and therefore was awarded the first year. The bull was given the second year and the third year was granted to the tiger and so forth. At last the pig was associated with the twelfth year, after which the cycle repeats itself.