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Chinese New Year Festivals, Auckland and Christchurch

Lantern festivals in Auckland and Christchurch this year mark the new Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac. The Tiger is a sign of courage and people born in the year of the tiger (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998) are said to be natural leaders, intelligent, alert and far-sighted.

About the Lantern Festival Tradition

Lantern Festivals have been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since 206BC – 221 AD (the Han Dynasty). Ancient Chinese belief was that celestial spirits could be seen flying in the light of the first full moon of the lunar calendar. Torches, then lanterns, were used to search for the spirits. Festival traditions typically include:

• Lanterns of every shape, size and colour and lattern riddles
• Special food called 'tang yuan', round, glutinous rice dumplings symbolising the first full moon and family unity
• Entertainment such as stilt-walking, drumming, dragon and lion dancing
• Domestic preparations include house-cleaning, repaying of debts, cutting hair, buying new clothes, decorating homes with good luck messages and burning incense in respect to ancestors.

About the Festivals

• Auckland Chinese Lantern Festival, 26th - 28th February 5.30 – 10.30pm
  Albert Park, Princes Street, Auckland CBD – Auckland's 11th Lantern Festival.
• Christchurch Chinese Lantern Festival, 6th - 7th March 5.30 – 10.30pm
  Victoria Square, Christchurch CBD – Christchurch's 6th Lantern Festival.

Entry to both festivals is free and you can see and enjoy:

• Hundreds of beautiful feature lanterns specially imported from China
• Market stalls selling Chinese foods, arts and crafts
• Entertainment including traditional and contemporary Asian music, dance and song
• Performances by top Shanghai musical ensemble, Moon
• Internationally-acclaimed Hanggai folk band ( Mongolian throat-singing)
• 800-year-old Rolling Lantern dance from South China (that served to frighten off pirates).

For more information, visit www.asianz.org.nz.

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