Winnipeg’s Chinatown is ringing in the Lunar New Year and the festivities are back in person for the first time since the pandemic, making the day even more special.
And one of the festivities being brought back is the Chinese lion dance, which is said to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.
The Flying Lion Dance Troupe brought smiles to a Chinatown supermarket on Sunday morning, stopping by shops and showering them with lettuce leaves, a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
“It was great to see the response from the audience,” said Bernard Phanthavong, president of the Flying Lion Dance Troupe.
Additionally, a table was laid out with burning incense and food, from roast pork to sesame balls, to pay respect to the ancestors.
“We show respect to our ancestors. So we offer different fruits or food items to the ancestors as well as drinks,” Phanthavong said.
“A big part is actually family gatherings. So food is a big part. So sharing different food and what not.
And just a block away, people lined up to get a table inside the crowded Kum Koon Garden, serving dim sum, small plates of food that included dumplings.
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And for owner Geoffrey Young, who has been running the restaurant for more than 40 years, the New Year’s celebration brings optimism after some tough years.
“Today is a very special day. They all love to come with family.
This year is the Year of the Rabbit, which is said to be a peaceful year.
“It’s a very energetic year, and I hope it’s going to be a year of health, good health,” Young said.
, With files from Rosanna Hempel of Global
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