#Canada; #ChineseCommunities; #EastAsiancommunitiesinCanada; #LunarNewYear; #ChinesNewYear; #YearOfTiger
Ottawa/CMEDIA: The beginning of Lunar New Year would be marked this week by Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other East Asian communities in Canada and around the world.
It is one of the largest celebrations for Canada’s Chinese population and is also celebrated by Canadians from Vietnam, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Since 1997, Canada Post has celebrated the Lunar New Year by issuing stamps featuring the astrological sign of the current year. Since 1999, it has offered stamps of different denominations: one for first-class domestic mail, and one for international mail (which is also available in a souvenir sheet).
Since 1 June 2016, this celebration has been recognized as an official holiday in Canada.
The Lunar New Year marks the first day of the New Year calendar, which dates much further back than the regular Gregorian calendar. It is a lunisolar calendar based on astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the phases of the moon. The beginning of the new year is calculated based on Lìchūn, the new moon located nearest the start of spring in the northern hemisphere. The Chinese lunar year always begins between 21 January and 21 February.
The Lunar New Year — also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year, Tet for Vietnamese Canadians, or Solnal for Korean Canadians — is celebrated in Canada and several other countries.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival:
“Today, Chinese communities in Canada and around the world will celebrate the start of the Spring Festival and welcome the Year of the Tiger…is also an opportunity for all of us to recognize the many contributions that Canadians of Chinese descent have made – and continue to make – to our country, and to learn more about their rich cultures, customs, and traditions. Canada’s diversity is our strength, and together we will continue to build a better, fairer, and more inclusive country.“
This moment is a time of celebration and is marked by festivities like parades, lion dances, and fireworks, while families and loved ones share a meal and exchange gifts.
This festival gives Canadians an opportunity to celebrate the significant contributions that these communities make to our country. Although the pandemic means these celebrations will have to be done differently, I know that people will still find ways to safely mark the Year of the Tiger.
The Year of the Tiger symbolizes strength, power, and bravery and highlights just how resilient these communities are and is an example of the values we’ve seen in the face of anti-Asian racism.
It teaches us to stand united and stop Asian hate in all its forms and that acts of violence, hate, and discrimination have no place in Canada.
“As Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, I encourage all Canadians to take the time to learn more about the many communities across our country who help make us who we are. More importantly, I extend my warmest wishes to all those celebrating Lunar New Year. May this Year of the Tiger bring you luck, health, and prosperity, ” stated Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
