Wednesday
13th February 2002
Horsing around for Chinese New Year |
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Mrs
Wong (centre) and helpers from the Devon and Cornwall Chinese
Association, preparing for the Year of the Horse
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Devon
and Cornwall's Chinese community came together in Plymouth last night
to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse
The New Year is the highlight of the Chinese calendar and the Plymouth
celebration is the largest indoor Chinese New Year celebration in
the UK.
Dancing Dragons, unicorns and lions are the traditional start to the
celebration of the Chinese New Year - the animals are believed to
banish evil and bring good fortune.
"The long term history of the lion dancing and the unicorn dancing
is to frighten away evil," explained Paul Li of the Chinese Association.
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Kumquat
Tree - The tiny green leaves of this plant symbolise wealth
as the word Luk (green) rhymes with the Chinese word for wealth.
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"When you
get all the noise the evil spirits are frightened away and they bring
luck."
Around
700 members of the region's Chinese Association met for their annual
dinner, which is considered by many to be the most prestigious event
in the region's Chinese calendar.
Although the event featured much that is traditional the younger generation
are as keen as their elders to observe the celebrations
Click
here
to find your Chinese sign of the zodiac
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In Plymouth the Chinese community has created a giant picture illustrating
all the different traditions associated with the New Year and they
are inviting the whole of the South West to celebrate with them.
"It is
one of the most celebrated festivals for the Chinese and because we
feel not many people know how we celebrate it, we want to promote
it this way," said Ling Wong. |
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