Millions of people across the world came together to celebrate the most important date in the Chinese calendar, with festivities kicking off yesterday – the day of the second new moon of the winter solstice – signalling the start of 15 days of parades, parties and food.
2019 marks the ‘Year of the Pig,’ the twelfth of the zodiac animals. The Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao, is a repeating cycle of 12 years, each with an animal associated with certain characteristics.
ChineseNewYear.net said; “Those born under the sign of the Pig are said to avoid ‘wasteful’ spending but will still “let themselves enjoy life,” ChineseNewYear.net says.
They are energetic and are always enthusiastic, even for boring jobs. If given the chance, they will take positions of power and status.”
There’s ample opportunity to ring in the changes and take part in some time-honoured customs, from family orientated festive feasts promising dishes of delicious dumplings and tempting taro cakes to colourful street celebrations that will see cities across the UK lit up in vibrant red and gold. Here are some of the best places to visit to mark the occasion in style.
The 17th annual Chinese New Year celebrations, staged in Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter, is set to attract around 30,000 people looking to soak up all the action.
This year’s celebrations, in and around the Arcadian Centre, will take place this Sunday - from 11.30am - and will feature authentic lion dancing, a fire act, acrobatics, street food, traditional lantern making and funfair rides. The celebrations will also take place on Colmore Row and at St Phillips Cathedral.
