BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently held a dragon dance "eye-catching" ceremony in Auckland for the first time as prime minister, marking the beginning of Auckland's three-week celebration of the traditional Chinese lunar Year of the Dragon, according to New Zealand's "Xiangyin" website.
New Zealand will host dozens of events to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dragon. Screenshot of the New Zealand Herald report.
With the Chinese New Year approaching, Auckland will host dozens of celebrations, and the sounds, tastes, traditions, and more of the dragon will appear throughout the city.
On the 3rd, as many as 20,000 people gathered at the Auckland Convention and Exhibition Plaza to participate in the Chinese New Year celebration and kick off the celebrations.
Kai Luey, the festival organiser and former president of the Auckland Chinese Community Centre, said: "Because it is the Year of the Dragon, the opening ceremony replaced the usual lion dance with a dragon dance. ”
Feng Shui master Jojo Zhou from Auckland said that the dragon is considered the most auspicious and powerful animal in the Chinese zodiac, and she will have many exciting changes in 2024, and the astrological signs also indicate opportunities and new beginnings.
Feng Shui master Janet Chan, who runs a business that provides postpartum recuperation services for new mothers, said that traditionally, Chinese consider the Year of the Dragon to be a more auspicious year for having children.
Babies born in the Year of the Dragon are considered independent, driven, confident, ......Chan said.
While food plays a central role in Chinese New Year celebrations, it is believed that eating a certain food will bring good luck and wealth. For example, fish means wealth, dumplings and spring rolls mean wealth, and noodles represent longevity and happiness.
This year, many Chinese restaurants in New Zealand are expecting high demand for crayfish. The first is because crayfish have the word "dragon", which will be very popular in the Year of the Dragon; The second is because crayfish turn red when cooked, and red is considered an auspicious color.
February 9 and 10 are the first weekend of the Year of the Dragon, when the Auckland Sky Tower will be filled with the God of Wealth. Afterwards, firecrackers will be set off at Sky City and the Hup Jong Mune Martial Arts Cultural Association will present a dragon and lion dance performance.
Auckland City Council will host a festive event in the heart of the city, starting with the inaugural Lunar New Year Festival in the Auckland Art Gallery forecourt, which will include cultural performances, traditional tea ceremonies and dumpling-making classes.
The Midtown Street Party on 14 February and the finale on 25 February at City Square will also add to the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year.
From 22 to 25 February, the Auckland Lantern Festival will return after a four-year hiatus, taking place for the first time at Manukau Stadium. The fireworks display at 21:50 on 25 February will bring the Festival of Lights and Lunar New Year celebrations to a close. (ENDS).