The chair of Perth Chinese Association has voiced his delight that Chinese New Year will return “bigger and better” after subdued celebrations were held locally last year.
Perth will bring in the Year of the Rabbit on Sunday, January 22 with a parade, setting off from the council’s High Street offices at 1.45pm.
Chinese Lions, Rhythm Wave Band and entertainers will dazzle guests, and will be accompanied by Provost of Perth and Kinross Xander McDade and the Perth Chinese Association.
Open to members of the public, the parade will make its way to Kinnoull Street and then onto Mill Street for the official celebrations.
There will then be a variety of Chinese and other entertainment on offer for the rest of the afternoon.
From 2pm onlookers can watch the Chinese Lion dance and enjoy traditional Chinese singing, with music from Rhythm Wave and Taiko drummers.
There will be craft-making stalls, puppet theatre, funfair rides and circus skills with Adventure Circus to keep everyone entertained.
The colourful and vibrant scenes are a welcome start to the Year of the Rabbit and a far cry from the 2022 event, which saw a toned-down gathering on Glengarry Road.
The muted celebrations saw gifts exchanged to bring in the Year of the Tiger after the larger planned public celebration was cancelled due to Covid pandemic precautions.
But chairman of Perth Chinese Association Andy Chan is delighted that the festival is returning “bigger and better” this weekend.
The Perth City South ward councillor explained: “As we leave the Year of the Tiger move into the Year of the Rabbit, which is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture - 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.
“People born in a Year of the Rabbit are believed to be vigilant, witty, quick-minded, and ingenious.
“Last year it didn’t really happen so it is good to be back and to have communities back together again.
“It is quite exciting.”
Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, which is why the date changes from year to year.
Typically the Chinese New Year festival period lasts for 15 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival.
In 2023, it is from January 21 to February 5 and is the most significant and most celebrated festival in the Chinese calendar.
Cllr Chan added: “Perth Chinese Association and The Confederation of Chinese Associations in Scotland are very proud of the work we do in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council.
“Over the years there have been many excellent examples where the council, the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China and Perth Chinese Association have worked together to celebrate Chinese culture.
“I think that in Perth the Chinese community is part of all our lives. I was born here; my brothers, sisters, cousins and most other Chinese-Scots my age all consider themselves to be equal parts of both cultures.”
Cllr Chan concluded: “We really have grown up with the best of both worlds!”
