Arts

Lunar New Year brings a different Occupy movement to Vancouver Art Gallery plaza

by Charlie Smith on February 19th, 2015 at 2:20 PM
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      You've got to hand it to Charlie Wu, the clever arts impressario behind this weekend's LunarFest celebration ringing in the Year of the Sheep.

      On Friday (February 20), he and others at the festival will place hundreds of sheep (like the one above) on the Georgia Street side of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

      Here's what was stated in a LunarFest news release.

      "The organizers of the rally, LunarFest, are pleading with everyone who is coming to support the sheep to refrain from 'irritating' or 'disturbing' these peaceful demonstrations, as they celebrate the Year of the Sheep!"

      Yes folks, the sheep will be staging a new kind of Occupy Vancouver rally.

      LunarFest is a free and family-friendly event extending over three days, featuring the award-winning Jhuo Lan Dragon Dance Team from Taiwan.

      Expect these performers to illuminate the plaza with their innovative glow-in-the-dark dance.

      Taiwan's Jhuo Lan Dragon Dance team came first in all of Asia.

      There's also going to be a "Great Wall of Lanterns", which is being done in collaboration with the Art Hope Foundation.

      And it wouldn't be Lunar New Year without some tasty treats—this year, there's going to be a dumpling fest to add to the fun.

      Dumplings have different meanings, depending on where you are in Asia.

      According to LunarFest organizers, in Vietnam these morsels are put in family altars to honour ancestors.

      In China, dumplings have various ingredients to achieve certain outcomes. Chives represent long life. Fish symbolizes having a bountiful life. Pork is included to promote prosperity and wealth.

      In Taiwan, where Wu was born, munching on dumplings is seen as a way to get rid of the old and welcome the new.

      Is it any wonder that they're so popular at Lunar New Year?

      Charlie Wu is inviting all of Vancouver to drop by LunarFest on the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza.
      Charlie Smith
      LunarFest takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza on Friday (February 20) and Saturday (February 21), and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday (February 22).

      Comments

      4 Comments

      J.M.T.

      Feb 19, 2015 at 4:05pm

      Wasn't New Years like a month and a half ago?

      0 0Rating: 0

      Miranda Nelson

      Feb 19, 2015 at 4:10pm

      JMT,

      Different cultures celebrate the new year at different times. Secular western culture marks the new year as January 1. Today is Lunar New Year. Nowruz (Persian New Year) is usually March 21. Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is in September.

      But I highly suspect that you knew that so I'm not quite sure what you were trying to imply with your comment.

      0 0Rating: 0

      @Miranda

      Feb 19, 2015 at 5:31pm

      I think JMT was attempting to be sarcastic.

      You can get off your high horse now <-- my attempt.

      0 0Rating: 0

      Martin Dunphy

      Feb 19, 2015 at 6:16pm

      @:

      No. he was attempting to trivialize any New Year celebrations but his accustomed western version. Sarcasm had nothing to do with it.

      0 0Rating: 0