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News & Events
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Chinese New Year Carnival Post in the Oakland Tribune on Thursday, January 22, 2004 Written by Thea Lavin, Staff Writer Fortnight of Fun Oakland ~ The nutty scent of dried bean curd will breeze into San Francisco this weekend as the two-week-long Chinese New Year carnival opens Saturday at Walter U. Lum Place. Polished jade figurines, vivid flower displays and mountains of traditional Chinese food will draw thousands of spectators to the popular event. The carnival's cuisine recently was featured in the online magazine Global Gourmet. The most popular New Year foods -- such as lotus seeds, gingko nuts and black moss seaweed -- are believed to have with beneficial qualities such as exceptional luck and happiness. The festival's history possesses a wealth of both traits. It began as a small parade among Chinese immigrants in the 1860s. Today it is the largest of its kind outside Asia and includes the carnival, a Miss Chinatown U.S.A. pageant and a two-day flower market. This weekend's celebrations mark the Year of the Monkey, a figure frequently portrayed in Chinese folk art. According to the traditional Chinese zodiac, every lunar year is symbolized by an animal. The monkey is steeped in mystery and associated with gains in knowledge and technical know-how. The West Coast Lion troupe from Daly City will perform traditional Chinese lion dancing at the New Year parade Febuary 7. The group has appeared in the parade every year since 1982 under the name Jing Yi. Miss Chinatown U.S.A. contestants will visit the carnival before the official coronation Jan. 30. Contestants compete for a $10,000 grand prize. People from all cultures are welcome at the celebrations, according to Wade Loo of the San Mateo branch of the Organization of Chinese Americans. "If you've never been there, it's great to see it the first time," said Loo. Southwest Airlines is the leading sponsor of this year's celebrations. Corporate funding of cultural events is a growing trend in San Francisco. Last year's Halloween celebration in the Castro was funded by Clear Channel. The San Mateo branch of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) believes corporate funding of cultural events is inevitable. "I think you have to get corporations to pay for the floats because it's all so expensive now," said Wade Loo of the OCA. The carnival runs daily from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. through Febuary 8. For more information about the carnival, call the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, (415) 391-9680. The Oakland Tribune: Bay Area Living
Oakland Tribune: General Contact Information
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Related links: - Oakland Tribune - SF Commerce |
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