Chinese New Year 2012

Chinese New Year is not only celebrated by people born in China.  It is celebrated across the world in many countries such as China; Hong Kong; Taiwan; Vietnam and many more. This year Chinese New Year will be celebrated on Monday 23 January 2012, however, festivities continue throughout that week.

Animal signs are associated with each new year.  There are twelve animals repeated every 12 years.  2012 is the year of the dragon representing great and auspicious power.  Good deeds are encouraged as the dragon is meant to be an inspiration seeking to overcome all the wrongs in society. Thus an angry dragon is always justified because it has to do with correcting the erring.

The evening meal on New Year's Eve is traditionally fish.  Sweets and steamed cakes symbolize all the good things that one can expect from the year to come.  Clams and spring rolls are both symbolic of wealth.


I found a great site called Taiwanese-Secrets.com with some great pictures of dragons (see above)

There will be two celebrations in Box Hill this year.

1. Saturday 21st in Market Street Box Hill
2. Monday 23rd in Centro Box Hill (in the shopping centre) Chinese Lion Dance at 10:30 (South precinct) and 11:30 (North precinct) 

Wishing all our participants a Happy New Year and also a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year