Chinese New Year 2006

[Rinrada]

Got a message from me old mate Ken about the forthcoming New year celebs in the Smoke...

Hopefully K.W and her T friends (and me)will all be down in China Town on Sunday so for all of our home buddies ......Kun hae fat chi...krup....when it comes..

Chinese New Year 2006

Sunday 29 January 2006

Chinatown, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square

Chinese New Year is part of China in London 2006, the largest celebration of Chinese culture ever seen in the capital.

With over 100 events taking place across London from January to March, there is something for everyone to enjoy

London’s celebration for Chinese New Year of the Dog begins with a parade, starting at 11am, along Charing Cross Road to Trafalgar Square. The parade features Gold Sail Dance group from Beijing plus London based performers including Jun Mo.

The main event takes place in Trafalgar Square from 12noon to 5.30pm with dragon and lion dances and the best of Chinese arts and entertainments on stage.

There will be two fireworks displays at 2pm and 5pm in Leicester Square.

Organised by London Chinatown Chinese Association.

On Sunday 29 January the British Airways London Eye will be turned red, in celebration of Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year in Chinese communities. As it is based on the lunar and solar calendars, the date varies from late January to mid-February

'It is my great pleasure to introduce China in London 2006, London’s largest ever celebration of Chinese culture.

China is now the most rapidly growing major economy in the world, and its development potentially brings great advantage not just to China, but also to London. Trade with China is already expanding rapidly. Chinese companies are looking for skills that we have in abundance in London – finance, design, marketing, brand development and bio-sciences among them.

At the same time, many of the largest Chinese enterprises are very interested in the opportunities offered by the London Stock Exchange or in setting up their European headquarters in our city. A future of mutual benefit for London and China is one that I am keen to promote. And with the next two Olympic Games in first Beijing and then in London we have a very strong shared interest in promoting each other.

Part of that is through developing better cultural understanding. China is one of the oldest and richest cultures in the world, but we know far too little about it.

We know something of Chinese cuisine through the many restaurants in Chinatown – one of London’s visitor attractions. And the annual Chinese New Year festival gives us a little insight into that country’s vast and varied culture.

But during the China in London season there will be an unparalleled opportunity for Londoners and visitors to experience China both ancient and modern. At the wonderful ‘3 Emperors’ exhibition at the Royal Academy we can see treasures of the former emperors of China.

On Oxford Circus a special lighting display will run alongside contemporary Chinese artists with window displays at Selfridges and offers and promotions in many other stores. The Shanghai on Screen film festival will provide an opportunity to see some little known Chinese films and animation.

Museums, attractions and galleries across London are arranging special events and displays, participants include Madame Tussauds, the V&A, Royal Artillery Museum, British Museum, Natural History Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Battersea Arts Centre, London Zoo and many others.

I hope that many Londoners will take up this unique opportunity to experience Chinese culture and join in the celebrations for Chinese New Year in 2006.

Ken Livingstone

Mayor of London

[Jaffy]

Sounds more exciting than watching Bolton v Arsenal!

So i'll be there.

Hope they have those tasty sweet bean filled buns the Chinese bake especially for festivals!

[Rinrada]

Moon Cakes...

[Jaffy]

Moon Cakes...

Delicious!

Are they available at other times of the year?

[Rinrada]

Loads of little places/cafes around Gerrard St that still do them as well as all the other cakes and sticky buns associated with China.

Dont get down there as often as before (couple of years with Westminster City Council-around 15 years ago) but the place dosnt really change...just gets better.

Clicked on this link and it shows a restaurant called the "Kowloon"which assuming still there was always a bit old fashioned and as you can see they have a window full of buns.

Used to know the old boy who owned it and he never let us down if we needed a table ..in the back loom-OK...ye-yea...try this wine...that no Goood.....only duck left...no chicken....OK....Yea yea

http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/soho/grd_north.htm

[Rinrada]

Good day out on Sunday but too many Chinese.....millions of "em...

Year of the Dog....

bit of info from the BEEB.....

Gong Xi Fa Cai (Kung Hei Fat Choi) - and a Happy New Year.

A big welcome to the honest and faithful Dog...

Whatever the sign, we're all affected by the arrival of the new animal and should ensure that our homes and businesses are in as good order as possible to greet the new year.

Traditionally, all financial matters, including debts and outstanding taxes, have to be settled by the new year.

If these cannot be repaid, then the person owing the dosh shouldn't show their face until new year's day and then, if lucky, they may get a further three months' credit (note: must run that one past my bank manager).

The festivities officially last 15 days, although realistically four or five are the pared-down London version.

It's traditionally a time to visit family members and pay respect to one's elders. Millions of people therefore move around China to catch up with their nearest and dearest.

Feasting and dressing up are also massively important and preparations go on for weeks beforehand.

With the onset of winter, vegetables, fish, poultry and meats are dried, smoked, pickled, or salted.

Two weeks prior to new year, families call on their neighbours to make a large cake (made from rice), using the household's choice of filling and turned out in the family mould (such as the shape of a peach, or a Chinese letter).

lavish affair

The different dishes served up are also significant to the very superstitious Chinese.

Ingredients are significant, not necessarily for their taste but for what they represent. For instance, peaches represent immortality, duck a harmonious marriage, prawns laughter and oranges wealth and prosperity.

New Year's Eve is celebrated with a vast spread of grub, between 10-15 courses, so it's a time to pace yourself.

Cold starters are followed by soup and a main course of meat, or fish and - as it's considered bad luck to serve parts of an animal or fish - whole beasts are on offer.

Any large sharks should therefore be safe for this banquet, unless it's a huge family! This, as you've probably gathered, is a lavish affair, so lobster is often served.

Steamed fresh scallops with garlic or black bean sauce, braised dried shrimps with pine nuts and vermicelli, roast crispy suckling pig, or whole steamed sea bass are dishes which fit the entire beast requirement.

It's also why chickens are served with their feet and heads intact and noodles are dished out uncut to represent long life.

Food is so important that the God of the Kitchen is sent to heaven sevend days before New Year to feed back (I know, terrible pun) the activities of each household to the Jade Emperor.

Lucky money

Red is seen everywhere, on scrolls and banners proclaiming good wishes on walls, doors and windows, and children are given 'lucky money' in red envelopes.

So, as you applaud the Lion Dance as it snakes around central London, or as you rummage through the excellent Chinese supermarkets in Soho and on the Edgware Road or in Colindale, keep everything crossed that the Dog is enjoying a peaceful year!

[bkkmei]

moon cakes....ugh! used to be force fed them as a kid - ugh!

I heard that there were some big changes happening in Chinatown. Around the pagoda area, they've shut it all off and there are proposals to build a shopping centre or something. My dad even mentioned a Tescos!

http://www.rosewheel.co.uk/benefits.php

[Rinrada]

Yes its been in the local news quite a bit.

Dont know who Rosewheel property developers are but they are probably one of these secret holding outfits out of China with government dosh and maybe a wee bit of a Shinny-What investments to boot.?..

I used to work for WCC (Westminster City Council)for a couple of years and did some contract works (mostly security-fire alarm-ventillation etc) down in China Town and can honestly say the whole place is ready for development if not demolition.

The "flats in the sky" at Newport Buildings are still owned by the Council and were only build about 20-25 years ago.

You might remember the book/film ..think 39-49-59 Charing Cross Road -Helen Haniff -all about an old bookshop..thats where it used to be until about 1976.

The inside of the "Town"is a real hotch potch of grimy old buildings-mostly restaurants and mini supermarkets (Lung Fung) and aint really up to modern day standards....same as Suk. Road about 25 years ago

The main concerns raised by the locals is of course over the likely increase in rents but most of the businesses seem to be doing OK at the mo and I dont recon will change dramatically.

They have promised to stick with the local culture and characteristics of the area but with more modern and updated facilities.... so NO Tescos...but Qua sera sera...