Yesterday, Xiaochen took you to enjoy the Spring Festival in Hong Kong, ChinaToday, Xiaochen will take you to see how overseas Chinese celebrate the Spring Festival
Chinese New Year has been celebrated in Canada for a much longer time than we might think. The earliest Chinese to settle in Canada date back to the 18th century. They may include the large number of laborers who came from the south to build the Canadian Pacific Railroad and various ** stations, as well as the Chinese who moved from San Francisco due to the Fraser River Gold Rush.
Chinese New Year, a statutory holiday in Canada
Since 2016, Canada has made Chinese New Year a statutory holiday. Since 1997, Canada has been issuing stamps with the Chinese zodiac motif to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Even Chinese people in Canada can feel the warmth of being at home, thanks to Canada's inclusiveness. It is this kind of inclusion that gives people from all over the world warmth and a sense of belonging.
How many people in Canada celebrate Chinese New Year?
According to the 2021 census data,There are more than 1.7 million Chinese students and immigrants in Canada, accounting for 4% of the total population63%。This number was counted during the pandemicAnd with the opening of borders in 2022, that number has increased by at least a few hundred thousand.
During the Chinese New Year celebrations in Canada,Not only we Chinese participated, but also many Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian ethnic groups. Although the timing of the Spring Festival varies from country to country, and the customs are not exactly the same, it is usually celebrated between the Xiao New Year (the 23rd day of the lunar month) and the Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the first lunar month).
In addition,Since Chinese New Year is usually celebrated shortly after Christmas and New Year's Eve, many native white Canadians are also happy to join in the celebration of the Asian holidayExperience the festive atmosphere together.
Is Chinese New Year a holiday in Canada?
In 2017, Canada** officially announced that the first to fifteenth day of the first lunar month of each year will be designated as the "Spring Festival". The news was announced by Dashan, a well-known Canadian Chinese artist and Canada-China goodwill ambassador, at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Spring Festival Gala on Canadian national television.
Since then, there have been calls for the inclusion of the Spring Festival as a statutory holiday. As China's influence continues to grow and the Chinese community continues to grow, all levels of Canada** are beginning to consider this proposal. EspeciallyIn places such as Toronto Markham and Richmond in Vancouver, where Chinese gatherThe issue of the Spring Festival holiday has attracted much attention.
Although the Chinese New Year has not yet become an official holiday,But many Chinese-owned, Chinese-funded and Chinese-friendly companies usually offer vacation options on Chinese New Year's Eve and the first and second days of the new year. As for whether it is paid or not, and how many days off you have, it varies from company to company.
What is it like to spend the New Year in Canada
Celebrating Chinese New Year in Canada can give people a unique feeling. There is no lack of "New Year's flavor" here, but the ** of "New Year's flavor" is a bit diverse. In China, you can only feel the local Chinese New Year customs, while in Canada, you have the opportunity to experience the Chinese New Year customs all over China.
For example,During the Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown, you can enjoy the dragon and lion dance in the south and the Yangge fan in the north at the same time. This blend of diverse cultures makes people feel the tolerance and diversity of Canada. For example, in the New Year's goods section of Chinese supermarkets, there are candies and nuts that are essential for the Chinese New Year in the north, as well as all kinds of rice cakes and flowers that are needed for the New Year in the south. In addition to selling lanterns, couplets and the God of Wealth, there are also a variety of red envelopes to choose from.
During the Chinese New Year in Canada, shops all over the streets will remove Christmas ornaments and replace them with festive lanterns around January and February. Especially in those cities with a large number of old Chinese immigrants, the festive atmosphere of Chinatown is even strongerCompared with the domestic is not inferior.
Cities such as Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto host a variety of Chinese New Year events, including the Spring Festival Gala, parades, temple fairs, flower fairs, and lantern festivals. Local consulates, Chinese chambers of commerce and major a** will actively participate and support. In addition, all levels of Canada*** will also join in the celebration and celebrate the festive season with the public.
Many brands and merchants will also join in on this special occasion by hanging red lanterns and launching a variety of special styles and discounts** in Chinese style. Civil society organizations are also partnering with businesses to create a variety of fun activities to make people feel the festive atmosphere.
This year's Toronto Chinatown Parade also featured a mahjong tournamentLet people experience the charm of Chinese culture more deeply. These activities not only bring the Chinese community closer together, but also give more Canadians the opportunity to understand and appreciate traditional Chinese culture.
Seeing this, everyone thinks"Canadian-style Chinese New Year".How? Welcome everyone to communicate with Xiaochen in the comment area below
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