The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history and is the longest holiday of the year. In the 21st century, the national holiday begins on the first of the Lunar Calendar and lasts until the 15th of the first month.
Vancouver celebrates the Year of the Rat on Saturday, January 25th. The 2020 event runs from 11 am until 3 pm at two different locations. This is a great event and includes lion dancing and complimentary refreshments.
Will take place in Vancouver’s Chinatown on Sunday, Sunday, January 26, 2020, from 11 am until around 1:30 pm.
The parade goes up Pender St, turns at Gore Street and then returns along Keefer St. If the weather is good the Chinese New Year Parade can attract tens of thousands of people, so get there early and consider using public transit.
This event is highly recommended – you’ll feel like you’re in Asia and it’s far cheaper than a flight to Beijing!
The main food for this festival is the Laba porridge (腊八粥—Làbā zhōu). It includes seven types of grains, such as red bean, red dates and husked rice. There are many different myths regarding this porridge, but all teach the lesson of being grateful and not taking what you have for granted.