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After a horrendous year in 2020, which began with devastating bushfires across much of the country followed by a global pandemic which shut the world down, many are understandably hoping for a change in fortune. And depending on how much you believe in the symbols of the Chinese Zodiac, your hopes might be about to be answered. Friday is Lunar New Year and the first day of the Spring Festival which is observed in many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam and South Korea. The coming year will be the Year of the Ox, bidding goodbye to the Year of the Rat. Lunar New Year festivities have increasingly grown in Australia, with incredible displays of dancing and music accompanied by incredible feasts. The Sydney celebrations traditionally attract more than 1.5 million people and are the largest outside Asia. However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place around Australia many celebrations have either been cancelled or wound back. But for Wilson Lo and his students at Canberra Dragon Dance, this year’s festival will be jam-packed with performances after a quieter-than-usual year. Born in Hong Kong with Chinese heritage but growing up in Canberra from a young age, Lunar New Year has always been an exciting time for Dr Lo and his family. “If you imagine combining Christmas with the Western New Year, it’s a bit like that,” he said. “Growing up it was a really great time because you would get to see your family and when you’re a kid you get a little red package with money in it.” Dr Lo started teaching Chinese dragon dancing, alongside martial arts, in Canberra in 2004 and the Lunar New Year along with the Multicultural Festival are traditionally busy periods. With the Multicultural Festival delayed this year, the crew will be putting all their efforts into the upcoming performances. While a larger event had originally been planned, it was too difficult to organise during the uncertain times brought on by COVID-19. So the group will perform multiple smaller events over the next two weeks and one main performance at the Canberra Centre on Saturday at 11am. “We’re just so happy we can do something to hopefully bring some good luck to Canberrans – 2020 was not a good year by anyone’s standards,” Dr Lo said. “It depends how spiritual you are, but the Ox is seen as more reliable and stable [compared to the Rat] so hopefully it will bring some good luck for the coming year.” READ MORE: Where to celebrate the Year of the Ox in Canberra Saturday’s performance will feature Donnie the 14-metre red fire dragon, named for martial arts star Donnie Yen. The school has other dragons called Jackie (Chan), Bruce (Lee) and Jet (Li). Dr Lo said the fearsome dragon and accompanying lions along with performers creating a lot of noise with various instruments was meant to scare off the evil spirits of the Year of the Rat. The performers have been training regularly to incorporate new elements to their routine because the pandemic has forced them to make some changes this year. Unlike other years, Saturday’s performance will begin at City Walk and then roam through the shopping centre, meaning it will be more of a parade than a static performance in the hope large crowds won’t gather in one place. Lunar New Year events will run for two weeks and culminate with the Lantern Festival in Lennox Gardens on February 27, featuring an LED dragon.
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After a horrendous year in 2020, which began with devastating bushfires across much of the country followed by a global pandemic which shut the world down, many are understandably hoping for a change in fortune.
And depending on how much you believe in the symbols of the Chinese Zodiac, your hopes might be about to be answered.
Friday is Lunar New Year and the first day of the Spring Festival which is observed in many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam and South Korea.
The coming year will be the Year of the Ox, bidding goodbye to the Year of the Rat.
Lunar New Year festivities have increasingly grown in Australia, with incredible displays of dancing and music accompanied by incredible feasts. The Sydney celebrations traditionally attract more than 1.5 million people and are the largest outside Asia.
However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place around Australia many celebrations have either been cancelled or wound back.
But for Wilson Lo and his students at Canberra Dragon Dance, this year’s festival will be jam-packed with performances after a quieter-than-usual year.
Members of Canberra Dragon Dance during a rehearsal. Picture Sitthixay Ditthavong
Born in Hong Kong with Chinese heritage but growing up in Canberra from a young age, Lunar New Year has always been an exciting time for Dr Lo and his family.
“If you imagine combining Christmas with the Western New Year, it’s a bit like that,” he said.
“Growing up it was a really great time because you would get to see your family and when you’re a kid you get a little red package with money in it.”
Dr Lo started teaching Chinese dragon dancing, alongside martial arts, in Canberra in 2004 and the Lunar New Year along with the Multicultural Festival are traditionally busy periods. With the Multicultural Festival delayed this year, the crew will be putting all their efforts into the upcoming performances.
While a larger event had originally been planned, it was too difficult to organise during the uncertain times brought on by COVID-19.
So the group will perform multiple smaller events over the next two weeks and one main performance at the Canberra Centre on Saturday at 11am.
“We’re just so happy we can do something to hopefully bring some good luck to Canberrans – 2020 was not a good year by anyone’s standards,” Dr Lo said.
“It depends how spiritual you are, but the Ox is seen as more reliable and stable [compared to the Rat] so hopefully it will bring some good luck for the coming year.”
Saturday’s performance will feature Donnie the 14-metre red fire dragon, named for martial arts star Donnie Yen. The school has other dragons called Jackie (Chan), Bruce (Lee) and Jet (Li).
Dr Lo said the fearsome dragon and accompanying lions along with performers creating a lot of noise with various instruments was meant to scare off the evil spirits of the Year of the Rat.
The performers have been training regularly to incorporate new elements to their routine because the pandemic has forced them to make some changes this year.
Unlike other years, Saturday’s performance will begin at City Walk and then roam through the shopping centre, meaning it will be more of a parade than a static performance in the hope large crowds won’t gather in one place.
Lunar New Year events will run for two weeks and culminate with the Lantern Festival in Lennox Gardens on February 27, featuring an LED dragon.
