Lunar New Year celebrations in Nanaimo will ring in the Year of the Snake.
The Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, Jan. 29, with a two-week celebration often referred to as Chinese New Year, but according to Rim Shin, a society immigrant settlement worker with the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society, people in her native South Korea celebrate as well.
Shin was part of an event at Nanaimo Harbourfront Library on Saturday, Jan. 25, and talked about how her culture rings in the new year. Having family come together to eat and have fun is the main thing, she told the News Bulletin.
"We have a special ritual 'Charae' – it is very important," said Shin. "We pay respect to our ancestors, we offer special food for them. After that, the younger generation bows to elders and then [wish] them a happy new year and be healthy and happy. Elders give lucky money to the younger generations. Then also, Lunar New Year's day, we eat a special rice cake and fruits."
Wendy Wen, also with the society, said that according to the Chinese zodiac, people born under the snake are said to exhibit certain characteristics.
"This is kind of the belief; people born in the Year of the Snake are more intelligent, also have intuition, and are smooth," said Wen.
There will be other Lunar New Year events in Nanaimo, including a gala at Beban Park Social Centre on Saturday, Feb. 1, beginning at 4 p.m.