Lunar New Year celebrations welcoming the Year of the Snake set for East Toronto
Lunar New Year will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 29, welcoming what will be the Year of the Snake.
Along with China, the Lunar New Year is also celebrated in other countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. Although some of the traditions are shared amongst these nations, celebrations are unique to each country’s cultural identity.
The Chinese zodiac calendar has 12 symbols – Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
As part of the many celebrations planned, the annual Lunar New Year’s Lion Dance Parade will take place in Toronto’s East Chinatown on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The celebration welcoming the Year of the Snake begins at noon with a Lion Dance at the Zhong Hua Men Archway on Gerrard Street East. The Archway is located one block west of Broadview Avenue at Hamilton Street, on the south side of Gerrard Street across from Hubbard Park.
The Lion Dance and Parade are organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of East Toronto.
The Chinese zodiac calendar has 12 symbols – the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Those with the birth years 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025 are considered to be born in the Year of the Snake.
Those born in the Year of the Snake are considered to be charming, intelligent and creative, but also secretive, cunning and sometimes ruthless, according to the Chinese zodiac symbology.
After the Lion Dance at the Zhong Hua Archway on Feb. 8, the parade will see participants visit local businesses in East Chinatown.
The parade will head south along Broadview Avenue to bring the businesses there good luck, before turning onto First Avenue where it will then head east and then back north along Boulton Avenue to make its way back to Gerrard Street East.
“The annual East Chinatown Lion Dance Parade is a longstanding community tradition and one of my favourite events of the year,” said Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher in a statement sent to Beach Metro Community News.
Along with China, the Lunar New Year is also celebrated in other countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. Although some of the traditions are shared amongst these nations, celebrations are unique to each country’s cultural identity.
