Lunar New Year is a time to celebrate family and culture and reflect on the past year. This year, the Year of the Dragon kicked off with vibrant celebrations on Saturday across numerous communities around Australia, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian and Korean diasporas.
Importantly, just as cultural identity is fluid and ever-evolving, so is the Lunar New Year story. While longstanding traditions are followed, there are also contemporary expressions that make it a dynamic celebration from year to year.
Last year we asked some of our LOTE team how they celebrate Lunar New Year. This year, we wanted to attend festivals and speak to community members to learn more about the Lunar New Year and what it means for their cultural identity. Remember, just as cultural identity is unique for each individual, so are the Lunar New Year celebrations that our team and community members have experienced. This blog post is a snapshot of just a few events and experiences across Australia and intends to spark curiosity and conversation.
LOTE team members attended celebrations in Victoria Street, Richmond, and the National Gallery of Victoria, both in Melbourne, and we also spoke to community members in Victoria and Queensland ahead of Lunar New Year. Read on to find out more about the celebrations and their significance for communities in Australia.
