February 23, 2007

Eastridge holds special Lunar New Year Celebration

Event helps usher in ‘Year of the Pig’

By Ali Abdollahi
Staff Writer

A joint effort by Eastridge Mall and Sing Tao Newspaper and Radio brought a special Chinese New Year celebration to Eastridge patrons on Feb. 17.

The event marked the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, the most important Chinese holiday tradition. This year’s holiday ushered in the “Year of the Pig.”

While the holiday is steeped in ancient Chinese tradition, it is also celebrated by other ethinc groups who are influenced by Chinese culture, including the Vietnamese, Japanese and Koreans.

“I think events like this are really good for the community,” said Christine Lai, a local resident on hand for the celebration. “It’s a way for Americans to experience some of our culture, and it’s also a cool way for us to stay in touch with our heritage.”

The event, held in front of over 100 spectators in Eastridge’s lower level court, featured two catwalk fashion shows. Previous winners of the Miss Sing Tao pageant showed off spring casual fashions and formal evening wear provided by Eastridge retailers Old Navy, Anchor Blue, Sears, JC Penney and Chrystalline Bridal.

Previous winners of the Miss Sing Tao Pageant model some of the newest fashions by Eastridge Mall retailers at the Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 17. Photos by Ali Abdollahi

Winners of a recent Sing Tao Children’s Talent Contest also provided entertainment for the crowd. Children performances included a tap dance show by Jessica Lee, a traditional Chinese dance display by Christy and Melody Yip, and a Kung Fu performance by seven-year-old Julie Zhong.

The crowd was also entertained by more contemporary Chinese art, with the music of singers David Ho and Lawrence Zheng.

A dressed-up “God of Fortune” was also on hand for the festivities. The God of Fortune is a tradtional figure in Chinese New Year celebrations that hands out New Year couplets that speak of happiness, wealth, longevity and success.

Red envelopes containing prizes were also awarded to winners of a special drawing. During Chinese New Year, small red envelopes are traditionally passed out by parents to children, and by married couples to unmarried adults.